A large blue and white charger with grape and vine leaf decoration and emblems

Description:

China, Jiajing period
D. 45 cm
The grape motif in the centre of this plate was a popular decorative motif during the Ming dynasty. Grapes are a symbol of abundance and were first cultivated in China during the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC - 9 AD).
Old European private collection, assembled before 2007
Chinese porcelain from the 14th, 15th and 16th centuries travelled to the Near and Middle East, especially to the Ottoman Empire, either as gifts or as war booty. Chinese designs had a great influence on the ceramic manufacturers in Iznik, Turkey. The Ming grape motif in particular was very popular and was reproduced on a large scale in the Ottoman Empire. A very äsimilar plate can be found in the Amaral Cabral Collection, published in "Azul e Branco da China - Porcelana ao Tempo dos Descobrimentos", no. 18, page 78-79 - Minimal signs of use, beautifully preserved