Lot 38 A Chinese blue and white 'Crow' cup or bowl and cover, Hatcher Cargo

A Chinese blue and white 'Crow' cup or bowl and cover, Hatcher Cargo

Wanli

未知

€ 1.500 – € 2.500

OH: H. 16,1 cm, Diam. 14,2 cm (incl. cover)

未知

A finely potted Kraak porcelain covered cup or bowl, the deep cup with high, slightly flaring sides rising from a low foot ring, moulded in the characteristic Kraak manner with four broad bracket-lobed panels alternating with narrow vertical compartments. Painted in underglaze cobalt blue, the broad panels depict alternating scenes of birds perched upon rockwork amidst flowering plants and landscape motifs, while the narrow panels are decorated with pendent ribbons suspended from stylised bows. The interior is centred by a medallion depicting a bird standing upon rockwork, surrounded by radiating panels of floral sprays and jewelled motifs.
The high-domed cover is similarly divided into broad floral reserves alternating with narrow ribbon-decorated panels beneath a continuous band of ruyi-heads, surmounted by a hollow circular ring knop. The interior of the knop bears a hare mark, an auspicious symbol associated with longevity and one frequently encountered on Kraak covered bowls of this type. The underside of the cover is further decorated with an artemisia leaf within a lobed reserve surrounded by radiating panels of jewels and dots. The unglazed rims of bowl and cover fit closely together, while the cover may also be inverted and used as a secondary bowl, an ingenious feature characteristic of this form.
The precise function of these covered bowls remains uncertain. Their carefully designed covers, fitted with a hollow ring knop that also serves as a foot when inverted, suggest a practical as well as aesthetic purpose. VOC inventories refer to comparable vessels as “covered stew cups” (gedekte stoofkommen), implying their use for serving soups, stews, or other warm dishes. Equally, they may have served for the storage and presentation of preserves, pickled fruits, vegetables, or other delicacies.
此件克拉克青花蓋碗胎體精細，深腹，器壁高直而微外撇，下承矮圈足。器身依克拉克瓷典型樣式模印分區，以四組寬幅倭角開光與狹長豎式開光相間排列。寬幅開光內以釉下青花交替描繪禽鳥棲於山石花卉之間及山水景致，狹長開光則飾蝴蝶結懸垂飄帶紋。杯心繪一禽鳥立於山石之上的團花，內壁環列放射狀開光，分飾折枝花卉及珠寶紋。
高拱形蓋亦依相同方式分區，寬幅花卉開光與狹長飄帶紋開光相間排列，其上環飾如意雲頭紋，蓋頂置中空環形鈕。鈕內繪玉兔紋款，為象徵長壽的吉祥圖案，亦常見於此類克拉克蓋碗。蓋內另於花式開光中繪艾葉紋，周圍環列放射狀珠寶及圓點紋開光。碗、蓋口沿均露胎，可緊密扣合，蓋亦可倒置，以中空環形鈕為足，作另一小碗使用，設計巧妙。
此類蓋碗的確切用途尚無定論。其蓋經過精心設計，中空環形鈕在倒置後可兼作圈足，顯示其兼具實用與審美功能。荷蘭東印度公司（VOC）的貨物清冊中，曾將相近器物稱為 ‘帶蓋燉盅’（gedekte stoofkommen），推測可用於盛裝湯羹、燉菜或其他熱食；亦可能用作貯存及呈放蜜餞、醃漬果蔬或各類珍饈。
Literature:
Maura Rinaldi, 'Kraak Porcelain: A Moment in the History of Trade', pp. 185-186, pl. 240 for a near-identical example and a further discussion.
Jorge Welsh Books, 'Kraak Porcelain: The Rise of Global Trade in the Late 16th and Early 17th Centuries', pp. 232-237, no. 39 for a near-identical example and a further discussion.
Colin Sheaf, Richard Kilburn, 'The Hatcher Porcelain Cargoes. The Complete Record', p. 45, pl. 54.
Provenance:
Marc Michot, Bruges.
The Mr. and Mrs. Baert-Devos Collection, Belgium. Acquired from the above in 1983 and accompanied by a copy of their certificate of authenticity. (see added scan)