Finely decorated with a central reserve with a pair of geese in a lotus pond, surrounded but smaller reserves of asters, patterned designs, and Precious Things.
All finely painted in particularly deep and vibrant underglaze blue. The reverse side with simple reserve patterns along the sides, and the foot with some characteristic sandy adhesions.
Diameter: 11 1/4 inches (28.5 cm.)
Kraak was a Dutch corruption of the Portuguese word Carrak (trade vessel) that first brought these types of porcelains to Europe in the mid-16th century. At that time, there was no porcelain production in Europe, and ceramics such as this with their thinness and fine and exotic decoration created a sensation and eventually craze of collecting throughout Europe. Kraakware was for the most part intended for dining and became luxury status symbols in European homes and palaces. As such, it also is often observed in Old Master paintings from the period.