A large enamelled porcelain Swatow dish
漳州五彩人物花鳥紋盤

Ming Dynasty 17th century, China.
明 17世紀 中國

Diameter: 40 cm Height: 10 cm
直徑：40釐米 高：10釐米

This large deep dish raised on a circular foot ring is painted in turquoise blue enamel with black outlining to the centre, and iron-red, green, black and turquoise on the border, the back is plain white. These wares were intended for the Southeast Asian market and are known as Zhangzhou or Swatow wares. The central medallion of this dish is decorated with a man carrying a basket of flowers on his back accompanied by a deer in a landscape setting, all framed by a circular border of lotus petals. The outer border around the inside rim is painted with a mixture of iron red diaper grounds between four shaped panels enclosing birds perched on flowering branches alternating with circular panels containing the Chinese characters yu, tang, jia and qi.

Similar Examples

Shanghai Museum, Wucai dish with design of human figures, flowers and birds

Zhangzhou Export Ceramics – The So-Called Swatow Ware by Jorge Welsh, page 124, figure 26