A RARE CHINESE BLUE AND WHITE SHONZUI-STYLE 'ZODIAC' DISH FOR THE JAPANESE MARKET

A RARE CHINESE BLUE AND WHITE SHONZUI-STYLE 'ZODIAC' DISH FOR THE JAPANESE MARKET

CHONGZHEN, 1628-44

The well painted with three figures in a boat encircled by the Twelve Earthly Branches, within bands of key fret and loops, the crenellated border decorated with a band of diaper designs and cash, the reverse with irregular leaf motifs radiating from the foot, a six character Jiajing mark in underglaze blue, with a paper label for the South Africa National Gallery Chinese Exhibition 1953, no.203, 14.9cm.

Provenance: from the collection of G R A Murray and thence by descent.

Exhibited: National Gallery of South Africa, Cape Town, Chinese Exhibition, 1953, no.203.

See Kaikodo, New York Asia Week 2018, for a shonzui dish with a comparable central pattern of three figures on a boat surrounded by the characters of the zodiac and a ring of key frets.

The Twelve Earthly Branches are sometimes used as a circular pattern on Swatow wares of the same period as this dish. The unusual crenellation on the other hand may be inspired by a European silver shape.