Polychrome and gilded chinoiserie plate, Delft, 1701-1722 The Greek A pottery

The plate is slightly curved and has a narrow border. The painting is executed over the entire surface in a polychrome Imari palette. The chinoiserie decoration consists of an Oriental woman and child dancing amongst flying birds. The woman – traditionally called Long Eliza – stands in front of a garden fence. The child is known as a Dancing Fool. Several variations of this decoration with Long Eliza exists, with or without the Dancing Fool. They all hark back to Chinese porcelain from the Kangxi period (1662-1722). The painting is done in a combination of grand feu and petit feu techniques.

Dimensions: diameter 25.5 cm / 9.84 in.

Provenance: Kunstzalen Vecht, Amsterdam

The Imari colour palette was very popular and copied in China and several European countries, both in potteries and in porcelain factories. Of the potteries in Delft the Greek A was the largest manufacturer of Imari. In the first decades of the eighteenth century it made up a substantial part of the production of this manufacturer. Faience with Imari decoration manufactured in Delft is also known by the French term ‘Delft doré’.

Condition: is very good considering its age of over 300 years. Small chips to rim and a small shard glued to the rim, wear and light damage to painting.