A Rare Japanese Export Porcelain Navel Battle Saucer c.1700.

c.1700

A Rare Japanese Export Porcelain ‘Navel Battle’ Saucer, Arita Kilns, c.1700. This rare Van Frytom related design was almost certainly supplied by the Dutch East India Company, Vereenigde Oostindische Compagnie, and would have been made to order for the Dutch market. The ships depicted might have been the Oostindiëvaarder (East Indiamen) engaging in a battle for trade, or perhaps this scene shows a skirmish between the Dutch and British in the Third Anglo-Dutch War (1672-1674). The wars for lucrative foreign trade were fought throughout the 17th century by European nations. As far as I am aware, the origin of this design has yet to be found. Christian Jörg illustrates an extraordinary teapot from the early 18th century with two designs carefully copied from an engraving of 1670 by Olfert Dapper’s book about China (see References). This teapot relates to the present example in that they have a similar look to the ‘Van Frytom’ landscape designs, the clouds are depicted in a similar way, the spout of the teapot has a wavy blue edge, somewhat similar to the borders of the Van Frytom group. The shape of the present example looks very different from a typical saucer, it is not circular but oval, with eight lobes. Normally this form would be described as a dish, however ‘Van frytom’ saucers come in many different forms apart from circular ones. A lobed Dutch Delftware saucer painted by Fredrick Van Frytom dated to 1684, is in the Prinsenhof Museum in Delft. Of course the cups have a circular rim, as drinking from a lobbed cup would be rather unpleasant. This is the first example I have had of this rather rare design. Saucers of this type are rare, however the tea bowls that would have been used with these saucers are rarer still.

SOLD

Condition
In excellent condition, very minor wear.
Size
Width 15.5 cm (6.1 inches).
Provenance
N/A
Stock number
26052
References
Olfert Dapper's book about China 'Gedenkwaerdig bedryf der Nederlandsche Oost-Indische Maetschappye, op de kuste en in het keizerrijk van Taising of Sina' , is a seminal Dutch work documenting Chinese society and Dutch East India Company (VOC) embassies, published in Amsterdam by Jacob van Meurs in 1670. For a saucer of this design see : Fine and Curious, Japanese Export Porcelain in Dutch Collections' (Christian J.A. Jorg, Hotei Publishing, 2003. ISBN 90-74822-16-9) page 247, plate 319. Another example, described as a dish is illustrated in : Four Centuries of Blue and White, The Frelinghuysen Collection of Chinese & Japanese Export Porcelain : (Becky MacGuire, Paul Holberton Publishing Ltd, 2023. Hardcover 9781915401090) pages 335. A further example is at Burghley House and is illustrated in : Burghley Porcelains: An Exhibition from the Burghley House Collection and Based on the 1688 Inventory and 1690 Devonshire Schedule (Published by Japan Society Gallery. Nishiea Hiroko. June 1986) page 174, plate 63.

Photos

Information

An Example of this Rare Saucer is at Burghley House.

"A small Van Frytom multi-lobed oval dish, Japanese, early 18th Century."

 

Frederik Van Frytom (1632 – 1702) :

The Dutch artist Frederik Van Frytom (1632 – 1702) was an important painter of Delft pottery, his style of painting fits very well within the 17th century Dutch landscape tradition, it includes typically scenes of the Netherlands, rustic landscapes with small bridges, farmsteads, pollarded willow, and cows scattered about small fields. His ceramic painting technique was individual, more akin to a painting than merely filling in a design on a ceramic body. Van Frytom's connection with oriental ceramics stems from a series of small blue and white Delftware dishes painted by him that were found in Japan and were said to be made for the Tea-Ceremony in Japan, the bases of which were marked MB and dated 1684 (See Frederik Van Frytom 1632 – 1702, Life And Work Of A Dutch Pottery-Decorator, A.Vecht, Scheltema and Holkema NV, Amsterdam, 1968). However, it is also possible, or in fact, more likely to have been sent to Japan by the V.O.C. to be copied. As far as I know, not conclusion has been reached.

 

A Delftware Dish Attributed to Frederik van Frijtom (or Frytom) circa 1632 - 1702.

The Museum of Art, Den Haag, Netherlands.

 

A Delftware Dish by Frederik van Frijtom (or Frytom) circa 1632 - 1702. Dated 1684 found in a Japanese Collection.

 

A Japanese Blue and White Porcelain ‘Van Frytom’ Saucer, Arita Kilns c.1690 – 1710.

Robert McPherson Antiques, Sold Archive Number 24745

A Japanese Blue and White Porcelain ‘Van Frytom’ Saucer, Arita Kilns c.1690 – 1710. This Japanese porcelain saucer is painted after the well-known Dutch Delft artist Frederik Van Frytom (1632 – 1702). It is painted with a rural scene from the Netherlands, depicting a small boat with figures, on the other side of the water are a group of buildings. The base with a poorly drawn six-character Chenghua mark (Ming 1465-1487). As far as Japanese and Dutch trade is concerned, Van Frytom is known for an incredibly important series of Delftware dishes he made for export to Japan, the bases of which were marked MB and dated 1684. For more information see ‘References’ and additional information below the photographs.SOLD Condition In perfect condition, there are two firing cracks, one to the front (in the clouds) the other to the base. Size Diameter 12.4 cm (4 3/4 inches) Provenance N/A Stock number 2 4 7 4 5
A Japanese Blue and White Porcelain ‘Van Frytom’ Saucer, Arita Kilns c.1690 – 1710. This Japanese porcelain saucer is painted after the well-known Dutch Delft artist Frederik Van Frytom (1632 – 1702). It is painted with a rural scene from the Netherlands, depicting a small boat with figures, on the other side of the water are a group of buildings. The base with a poorly drawn six-character Chenghua mark (Ming 1465-1487). As far as Japanese and Dutch trade is concerned, Van Frytom is known for an incredibly important series of Delftware dishes he made for export to Japan, the bases of which were marked MB and dated 1684. For more information see ‘References’ and additional information below the photographs.
SOLD
Condition
In perfect condition, there are two firing cracks, one to the front (in the clouds) the other to the base.
Size
Diameter 12.4 cm (4 3/4 inches)
The best known of Van Frytom`s designs is the so-called Deshima Island pattern, now known to be a view of Holland. Porcelain plates of this pattern, as well as related designs, were produced at the Arita Kilns in Japan and then in China at the Jingdezhen kilns, related designs also occurs on Chinese soft-paste porcelain. Plates and dishes of the so-called Deshima Island pattern dating to the Yongzheng period (1723-1735) were sold at Sotheby's Amsterdam Sale of Chinese Porcelain from the Ca Mau Cargo, “Made in Imperial China”. This Western style was then re-used, probably via Japanese or Chinese interpretations, in England at The Bow Factory using soft-paste porcelain, at least some of these Bow pieces closely relate to Chinese soft-paste porcelain versions of the design. However, the Chinese soft-paste examples are quite late in date, so it might well be possible that they are based on the Bow examples that are copying the Japanese or Chinese versions of the Delft. A complex and somewhat confusing inter-connection of design and trade.

 

Japanese 'Van Frytom' Style Van Frytom Porcelain from Robert McPherson Antiques

Below are a few late 17th and early 18th century Van Frytom style Japanese porcelain objects.

See Robert McPherson Antiques - Sold Items, search 'Van frytom'.

Japanese porcelain teabowl and saucer after Van Frytom
Japanese porcelain tea bowl and saucer after Van Frytom.

 

Japanese porcelain dish after Van Frytom
Japanese porcelain saucer after Van Frytom.

 

Japanese porcelain dish after Van Frytom

Japanese porcelain saucer after Van Frytom.

 

A Small Japanese Porcelain Dish After Frederik Van Frytom - Robert McPherson Antiques - 27445
A Small Japanese Porcelain Dish After Frederik Van Frytom - Robert McPherson Antiques - 27445. Christiaan Jörg suggests "this rather small saucer probably had a teacup. It is the only indication we have that this design was also used on tea ware" in 'Fine and Curious, Japanese Export Porcelain in Dutch Collections' (Christian J.A. Jorg, Hotei Publishing, 2003. ISBN 90-74822-16-9) page 242, plate 310.

 

A Yongzheng Blue and White Porcelain Plate 1723-1735.

In the Style of Frederik Van Frytom (1632 – 1702). 

Robert McPherson Antiques, Sold Archive Number 27082.

A Yongzheng Blue and White Porcelain Plate 1723-1735. This shaped plate is painted in the style of a famous Dutch Delft artist, Frederik Van Frytom (1632 – 1702). The scene is thought to represent Scheveningen, on the coast of the Netherlands, with its Church, ships and sand dunes, it had been referred to as Deshima Island but all Van Frytom’s work depicts the Netherlands. It is heavily potted with little variation in thickness, that is probably because it was based on a Japanese version of this design. This plate has ‘oriental’ style clouds in the landscape. This dish has clouds that are in the style of Van Frytom, the plates of this design from the Ca Mau wreck have distinctly oriental clouds. The moulded undulating border is quite distinctive, the painting of the border uses wax resist to separate the dark outer blue with the paler cobalt wash which frames the design. This moulded and painted border is used on several other Japanese porcelain designs which are dated between to c.1690 and 1730.See Below For More Photographs and Information. SOLD Condition Minor glaze chips and fritting, a small amount of very minor crazing to the front Size Diameter 19.4 cm (7 1/2 inches) Provenance N/A Stock number 27082 References For more about this delft artist see : Frederik Van Frytom 1632 - 1702, Life And Work Of A Dutch Pottery-Decorator By A.Vecht ( Scheltema and Holkema NV, Amsterdam, 1968). For Japanese and Chinese porcelain in the style of Van Frytom see lower down the page.
A Yongzheng Blue and White Porcelain Plate 1723-1735. This shaped plate is painted in the style of a famous Dutch Delft artist, Frederik Van Frytom (1632 – 1702). The scene is thought to represent Scheveningen, on the coast of the Netherlands, with its Church, ships and sand dunes, it had been referred to as Deshima Island but all Van Frytom’s work depicts the Netherlands. It is heavily potted with little variation in thickness, that is probably because it was based on a Japanese version of this design. This plate has ‘oriental’ style clouds in the landscape. This dish has clouds that are in the style of Van Frytom, the plates of this design from the Ca Mau wreck have distinctly oriental clouds. The moulded undulating border is quite distinctive, the painting of the border uses wax resist to separate the dark outer blue with the paler cobalt wash which frames the design. This moulded and painted border is used on several other Japanese porcelain designs which are dated between to c.1690 and 1730. See Below For More Photographs and Information. SOLD Condition Minor glaze chips and fritting, a small amount of very minor crazing to the front Size Diameter 19.4 cm (7 1/2 inches) Provenance N/A Stock number 27082 References For more about this delft artist see : Frederik Van Frytom 1632 - 1702, Life And Work Of A Dutch Pottery-Decorator By A.Vecht ( Scheltema and Holkema NV, Amsterdam, 1968).

 

Two Van Frytom Style Porcelain Plates - On the left ; from the Ca Mau Cargo 24761, and on the right, not from a shipwreck 27082. Robert McPherson Antiques
Two Van Frytom Style Porcelain Plates - On the left ; from the Ca Mau Cargo 24761, and on the right, not from a shipwreck 27082. Robert McPherson Antiques

 

Groninger Museum, Netherlands

Van Frytom Dishes from the Groninger Museum, Netherlands ; A Chinese version, center ; a version from the Ca Mau Cargo and right ; a Japanese porcelain Van Frytom style dish.
Van Frytom Dishes from the Groninger Museum, Netherlands ; A Chinese version, center ; a version from the Ca Mau Cargo and right ; a Japanese porcelain Van Frytom style dish.

 

A Japanese Porcelain Dish After Van Frytom and a Rare Chinese Export Porcelain Dish, soft-paste porcelain, Qianlong Period c.1760. The 

Robert McPherson Antiques Sold Archive.

Japanese porcelain dish after Van Frytom
Japanese porcelain saucer after Van Frytom c.1700.

 

A Rare Chinese Export Porcelain Dish, soft-paste porcelain, Qianlong Period c.1760.

Robert McPherson Antiques Sold Archive.

This dish is a copy of a rare Dutch Delft dish painted by Frederik Van Frytom (1632 – 1702) . An English version made at the Bow Porcelain factory in London, that version of this pattern from c.1748-1752.

Chinese export porcelain