R70,000 - R90,000
R90,000
A JAPANESE ARITA BLUE AND WHITE VOC DISH, EDO PERIOD, 1603 - 1867
The shallow dish painted in vivid tones of underglaze-blue, with the initials of the Dutch East India Company, VOC, (Vereenigde Oostindische Compagnie) monogrammed to the centre, enclosed by a Ho-o bird in flight above flowering camellia, another Ho-o bird perched on a rockery calls to its mate in flight whilst seated beneath three ripe pomegranates, all within a panelled border divided into six compartments containing alternating sprays of prunus, bamboo and peony, three spur marks to the base
36,2cm diameter
LITERATURE
cf. Christie's, Asian Art, Sale 2786, May 20 - 21, 2008, Lot 401
cf. William Fehr (1973) Treasures at the Castle of Good Hope, Board of Trustees William Fehr Collection, Cape Town, illustrated on page 56, fig. 66.
cf. CS Woodward (1974) Oriental Ceramics at the Cape of Good Hope 1652-1795, AA Balkema, Cape Town, illustrated on page 52, fig. 83
LOT ESSAY
With the collapse in 1644 of the Ming Dynasty in China, the source of Holland's abundant supply of Wanli blue and white 'Kraak' porcelain came to an end. To maintain supply of theses popular and profitable wares to the European markets, the Dutch East India Company turned to Japan for manufacture. Whilst maintaining the original Chinese 'kraak' characteristics of a central floral or animal motif surrounded by a radiating segmented border, Japanese 'kraak' dishes show some differences, particularly in the wider panels without the use of auspicious symbols, and in the depiction of the phoenix (ho-o birds) with their fanned-out tails.
Dishes with the VOC monogram are exemplars of East West relations in ceramics and the role the company played in them. No special mention is made of them in the trade documents, but it can be taken that they were commissioned for use by high-ranking Dutch officials at the factory on Deshima and possibly also in Batavia and other factories in Asia.
CONDITION REPORT
* Fine condition free from restoration
* Free from hairline cracks and chips
* Pockets of extensive wear to overglaze
* Glaze scratches and general wear
* Minor firing irregularities
* Shelf-wear to foot with traces of kiln grit
Fees apply to the hammer price:
Room and Absentee Bids:| 1 to 10000: | 23% inc VAT* |
| 10001+: | 19.55% inc VAT* |
| 1 to 10000: | 23% inc VAT* |
| 10001+: | 19.55% inc VAT* |
