JVV 0362
Delft, circa 1680
The blue and white dish has a narrow, flat flange and is painted in the centre with a Chinese figure in an oriental garden landscape in a double circle. The brushwork is executed in blue within purple outlining on a light blue-coloured tin-glaze. The Chinese figure carries a guzheng, a Chinese zither, wrapped in a cover. On the well and flange are six different landscapes and terrace scenes, partly filled with Chinese men and women. The reverse is painted with four circles with a dot and four smaller circles.
Dimensions: diameter 30,8 cm / 12.12 in.
Explanatory note
The decoration is inspired by Chinese porcelain from the transitional period at the end of the Ming and the start of the Qing dynasty. The porcelain of the last Ming emperor Chongzhen (reigned 1628-1644), the first Qing emperor Shunzi (reigned 1644-1662) and the initial period until 1674 of his successor Kangxi (reigned 1662-1722) may have served as examples for this dish. The transition period in China lasted more than 60 years (1620-1683) and was accompanied by much unrest, conflict and war. The Ming dynasty finally fell in 1644, but it took decades before peace returned to China. For example, the porcelain kilns in Jingdezhen, the main porcelain city in China, were destroyed in 1674.
