25 Large Dinner Plate Arita, Japan Edo period circa 1738 Dutch Market Diameter: 10½ inches; 27 cm A rare blue and white Arita porcelain plate, with the Dame au Parasol pattern after Cornelis Pronk, stilt marks to base. The Pronk parasol pattern is known in Japanese porcelain in polychrome and blue and white examples, though the latter is much rarer. They follow the design closely though the clothing and hair of the ladies has adapted to Japanese styles.
The parasol pattern is the first design commissioned by the VOC from Cornelis Pronk and was sent to Canton in 1734. Later the design was also sent to Deshima in Japan but there was disagreement over the price and no orders were placed. However small numbers of Japanese pieces are known so some must have been made as samples or private commissions. Only dinner plates and a small saucer in the Groningen Museum have been recorded. A small polychrome plate from a child’s service was recently discovered (Cohen & Cohen 2013, p65.). References: Jörg 1980, p70, No 32, blue and white plate, Nos 33 &34 two small saucers in Japanese blue and white; Other blue and white examples are in The Ashmolean Museum, Oxford, (EA2008.64) and the New York Metropolitan Museum (2002.447.123) which also has a Japanese blue and white barbers’ bowl (2002.447.72) clearly inspired by this design but significantly different.
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