Plate with Dutch Couple
(China )
Chinese export porcelain appeared in European markets as early as 1517, the year king of Portugal Manuel I established an embassy at Beijing. The Portuguese became a principle maritime power in the Far East, followed by the East India Trading Companies; demands were increasingly focused on blue and white porcelain.
This plate is an example of export porcelain commissioned by the Dutch, including a scene and designs painted in underglaze cobalt blue, black, and brown and overglaze enamel decoration in red and gold added in Europe. The central scene depicts two Dutch figures walking along a balustrade with a greyhound. Blossoming trees and flowers surround them. Leafy designs are painted on the cavetto while objects are situated between the foliations: a tall vase of flowers stands between a desk and a small dragon curled on a cushion, a Ruyi scepter is placed with a vase of flowers and a duck, a vase filled with peacock feathers stands beside a table with a bowl of fruit, and scrolls are paired with another flower vase.
Provenance
Provenance (from the French provenir, 'to come from/forth') is the chronology of the ownership, custody, or location of a historical object.
Kenneth S. Battye Collection, Baltimore [date and mode of acquisition unknown]; given to Walters Art Museum, October 1973.
Exhibitions
1980-1981 | Masterpieces of Chinese Porcelain. The Walters Art Gallery, Baltimore. |
Geographies
China (Place of Origin)
Measurements
Diam: 9 3/16 in. (23.4 cm)
Credit Line
Gift of Kenneth S. Battye, 1973
Location in Museum
Not on view
Accession Number
In libraries, galleries, museums, and archives, an accession number is a unique identifier assigned to each object in the collection.
In libraries, galleries, museums, and archives, an accession number is a unique identifier assigned to each object in the collection.
49.2419