A massive Chinese porcelain charger mid 17th century

A massive Chinese porcelain charger mid 17th century, originally decorated in underglaze blue in the Kraak style with three figures in a doorway, the wide rim with panels of further figures and flowers, later-enamelled possibly in Holland in the Imari style with red and gilt highlights to the original decoration, 48.5cm.

Provenance: the Helen Espir Collection, no. 837. Purchased from Helen Buxton Ltd., May 2001.

Cf. Francesco Morena, La Stanza delle porcellane dell'Elettrice Palatina a Palazzo Pitti, pp.78-83, also pls.103-104 on pp.252-253 for details of Chinese porcelain over-decorated in Florence in the 1720s in a similar style, perhaps indicating another place of decoration.