Finely decorated with a central reserve with a pair fo 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 corription of the Portugese 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 produciton in Europe, and ceramics such as this with their thinness and fine and exotic decoration creating a sensation and eventualy 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 there period.