A Finely Painted Wanli Kraak Porcelain Plate

A Finely Painted Wanli Kraak Porcelain Plate, Wanli Period c.1590 – 1610, Jingdezhen Kilns. The central scene is of a tall lady, elegantly dressed, dancing with long sleeves on a garden veranda. The rather improbable fence or wall, has bamboo and rocks on the other side, by her feet is a small scholars’ rock displayed in a pot. The panelled decoration is typical of Wanli kraak porcelain, but the finest painting has been reserved for the central figure. This unusual plate is probably a kiln waster, there is an open firing crack where the cavetto meets the flat well of the plate, at about 4 o’clock. The back has small amounts of iron-rich deposits, suggesting it has been buried. Kraak ware with firing faults turns up in China from time to time but it is very rare in a Chinese context. It is odd that Kraak ware, one the most important export wares of the late 16th to mid-17th century could have been buried in China. Four blue-and-white ‘kraak’ dishes were excavated from the tomb of Wu Nianxu (1547-1614), a provincial administration commissioner, and of his wife Mme He (1547-1610). Other burial Kraak is know I believe, and I have been told some have noticeable firing faults.

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