Bidspirit auction | Blue & White Kraak Merchant

Blue & White Kraak Merchant Ship Plate - Chinese export blue and white porcelain Kraak dish, Kangxi ca. 1710. The center depicting a large Western merchant sailing ship, possibly V.O.C. (Dutch East Indian Trading Company). The rim with alternating cartouches of boys among flowering fines and panels of flower-heads, trellis, or honeycombs. Illustrated in David S. Howard, ”Choice of the Private Trader, ” p. 46, no. 13. Provenance: Christie's, London, ”Fine Chinese Export Porcelain, ” 12 March 1986, Lot 335; The Distinguished Collection of Leo & Doris Hodroff. Lot Essay: This dish imitates Japanese Imari bowls, which, along with it's relative rarity, suggests commission by a private trader with more experience with Japan rather than the Dutch East India Company itself. Diameter: 10 1/2 in. Condition: No cracks or restorations. There are small chips and frits to the rim and footrim. Some light surface wear.