Dish

The dish is complete; broken, it was repaired probably with glue and plaster, before being partially repainted. It is circular in shape, with a plain rim. The rim slopes inwards, while its wall curves towards the bottom, which is flat. On the reverse, it rests on a ring-shaped foot with a flat, unglazed base. The center is recessed and flat. The foot has the beginnings of a fixing hole, the inside wall of which is covered with enamel. The body is beige, pinkish in places, and covered with a bluish-white enamel ; The decoration is hand-painted in blue on the front and back of the object. The painted decoration is animal-like, in the Kraak style from China. The inner surface of the object is entirely decorated. The perimeter and rim are painted blue, all the way to the bottom between the compartments. The rim and wall are decorated with compartments, divided into two alternating types. The larger compartments are trapezoidal in shape, with rounded upper corners and a corrugated center; their outer perimeter is made of a single net, which surrounds another net. Each one houses a different wrapped object, similar to the emblems of the Eight Immortals or the Eight Precious Objects, or a long-stemmed flower resembling a sunflower. Between these compartments are strips of the same length, but narrower than the compartments. They are separated into three zones by double horizontal lines: their central part is decorated with a Chinese knot, a U-shaped cord with a central ring, while the ends of the tabs are decorated with superimposed rows of scales or latticework. The central decoration is encircled by a double ring, within which are two concentric octagons with wavy sides and pointed corners. The space outside the octagons is painted blue and trimmed with alternating scales and sticks. The main decoration consists of a lake scene, featuring two birds seen in profile, probably ducks: one stands on rocks, while the other twirls above, and they are surrounded by leafy, flowering plants. On the reverse, the dish is lined with compartments delimited by a broad line. These are alternately decorated with a ring surrounding a pearl, or an X surrounded by four pearls.