Tianqi -Chongzhen period (c. 1625-1635)
The sturdily potted dishes are of square form with flattened rim with indented corners. The interior of each is painted in shades of underglaze-blue to the centre with large flowering lotus branches growing from a pond. A frog is emerging from a lotus leaf in the lower left corner, a winged insect is hovering above. The rims are reserve-decorated in white with a border of scrolling chrysanthemum.
17.5 and 17.8 cm wide
Provenance:
Formerly in a Japanese collection
Acquired from Jorge Welsh, London
The scene of the present dish is painted after a Chinese woodblock print from the Bazhu Huapu, 'Manual of Eight Types of Paintings', dating from the Tianqi period (1621-1627). In the original print a frog is shown on the lotus leaf, which is replaced by a turtle in our dishes.
