Deep Dish

The design of this bowl, with a central panel of birds and flowers surrounded by a segmented rim, is typical of the earliest Chinese porcelain made for export to Europe, known as Kraak ware. Produced from the Wanli period (1573–1619) to the end of the Ming dynasty in 1644, these wares were not as refined in shape or decoration as pieces meant for the Chinese court. The origin of the name Kraak was most likely the large Portuguese trading ships used for Asian trade called carracks on which these porcelains were transported to Europe. Kraak porcelain was frequently featured in Dutch still life paintings of foreign luxuries.