Set of Four 18th-Century Delft Blue and White Chinoiserie Chargers

A striking set of four large 18th-century Delft chargers, hand-painted in underglaze cobalt blue with an elaborate chinoiserie-inspired design and finished with iron-red/brown dressed rims.

The decoration is particularly rich. At the centre of each plate is a circular landscape vignette depicting a small pavilion beside flowering plants, set against a densely hatched ground suggesting water and distant landscape. This central medallion is surrounded by six shaped reserves, each containing highly stylised landscape elements with small buildings, trees and geometric forms.

Between the reserves, the blue ground is filled with overlapping scale-like decoration and radiating flower heads, creating an unusually dense and graphic composition. Small white cartouches containing scrolling motifs punctuate the design. The broad outer border alternates flowering branches with finely painted diaper panels, giving the plates a strong architectural rhythm.

The reverses are glazed and each bears a small painted blue mark, visible in the photographs.

The plates display the characteristic irregularities and evidence of age associated with early tin-glazed earthenware, including glaze wear, fritting and losses around the rims, firing imperfections and areas of surface wear. One plate appears to have more pronounced glaze disturbance/restoration within the central decoration, as illustrated.

A particularly decorative group whose elaborate interpretation of East Asian porcelain designs reflects the enduring influence of imported Chinese ceramics on Dutch Delftware during the 18th century.

£ 1500 The set of four

Price

£1,500

Reference number

22193

Origin

18th century Delft, Netherlands

Measurements

Height: 5.5cm (2.2 inches)
Diameter: 35cm (13.8 inches)

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