Description:
One of a set of six Chinese export porcelain small plates decorated in the 'Chinese Imari' palette of blue, iron-red, and gold. The 'Imari' palette was one of the palettes first developed in Japan where it was made in several places on the island of Kyushu, and shipped from its sea-port, Imari, to the Dutch trading post at Deshima and then to Europe. Its popularity in Europe encouraged Chinese imitation of many of the designs in the early 18th century, as part of China's efforts to regain their dominence in the porcelain trade, which they had lost during major civil wars in China in the 1650s when the Jingdezhen kilns were destroyed. The rebel Manchu ruler, Koxinga, also closed China to western porcelain trade in 1657, a ban that was lifted by Emperor Kangxi (ruled 1662-1722); the kilns were rebuilt in 1683. Chinese Imari used the basic palette, occasionally adding the Famille verte enamels of green and black, and around 1720, the Famille rose enamels; the style was at its peak in the 1720s when a number of armorial services were made for English families (see HD 62.199A), and quality deteriorated from c. 1735 onward. Chinese Imari both copied Japanese designs and incorporated Chinese-taste patterns popular on other contemporary porcelains, which were often more asymmetrical and robust than Japanese wares; the Chinese pieces often have unglazed footrims and no spur-marks on the base. This plate has scrolling floral sprays extending over a hollow rock; the flowers are iron-red and the stems, leaves, and rock are blue with gilt highlights. The curvature has a iron-red diaper band with four reserves with a stylized flower head. The rim has two floral sprays alternating with two bud/seed pod and stem in blue, iron-red and gilding,
Subjects:
Pottery; Enamel and enameling; glaze (coating by location); Porcelain Link to share this object record:
https://museums.fivecolleges.edu/detail.php?t=objects&type=ext&id_number=HD+60.196.6 |
