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Of good strong warm blue color and particularly well painted,
the deep round dish with a flattened lightly barbed rim,
the central roundel painted with a grasshopper on a rock between flora and below cloud scrolls,
the cavetto and rim divided into four wide and four narrow segments :
the wide segments of oval auspicious symbols, two beneath "Toatie" masks*,
two below beribboned diapered panels; the narrow panels with tied ribbons;
the rim verso having two small flowers with tendrils and long leaves;
the sides with shaped ovals, two jewel-filled and two with peaches,
alternating with four narrow panels of stylized "lingzhi" sided by vertical lines.
A similar smaller dish, illustrated in Rinaldi,
"Kraak Porcelain", Pl. 143, p. 131, resides in the Kobe City Museum, Hyogo, Japan
The Taotie mask with teeth and whiskers showing, ribbon ties beneath his ears,
and above an artemisea leaf (one of the Eight Precious Thingis)
*"Toatie" (meaning glutton) represents one of the oldest symbolisms in Chinese decoration,
used on bronzes from the Shang Dynasty (c1600-1000 BC), with the purpose of warding off evil spirits.
Legends vary, but it is said that the god devoured a man, but before it could swallow it,
its own body was damaged, "making a mysterious communication between people and Heaven (gods)".
However, on klapmuts made for the West, this mask seems to refer rather to "Gala",
a mythological Indian god of gluttony whose image appears as two large "gentle" eyes,
often embellished with long lashes and a broad nose.
Gala's gluttony was punished by having to eat his own body
until only the mouth and upper part of the head and two tiny hands remained.
This image is widely observed throughout Southeast Asia.
Klapmutsen were made during the Wanli period for European use,
and exported via the Dutch East India Company.
The rim was flattened (in comparison to the Chinese taste bowl)
for support of the longer 17th century European spoon.
It is reported that these bowls were likely used to serve strawberries, cherries and other fruits -
and still being used today thusly on special occasions.
Condition : Excellent; expected light fritting to the high points on the outer rim; hanging hole to the footrim
8.5" Wide x 2.75" Deep
SOLD
Please Inquire
#8042 |
