Kavel 39

A rare Chinese 'Kraak' porcelain dish in underglaze blue, centrally depicting two phoenixes, encircled by large rounded panels of sunflowers and precious objects alternating with small panels of ribbons between diapering. According to Maura Rinaldi "The phoenix, symbol of the Empress of China, is rarely depicted on Kraak porcelain. When it appears, it is almost always on dishes with this border (Border VII.2, complex diapering, with sunflowers and precious objects)." (Rinaldi, 'Kraak Porcelain', page 104). Interestingly, the central scene of this dish is not in an octagonal star shape with diapering as shown in the above mentioned literature, but completely fills the center of the dish, China, Wanli period, Ca. 1610-1630 -D. 36 cm, rim chip and rim frit-