Delft – Wanli style dish, late 17th century

Rare 17th-century Blue Delftware dish featuring Wanli “Kraak” style decoration of an oriental figure in a garden, surrounded by floral and geometric panels.
Tin-glazed earthenware in rich cobalt blue on a white ground. The central scene depicts an oriental figure in a garden, framed by alternating floral and geometric panels that extend to the rim, exemplifying the decorative finesse of early Delft potters.

This dish reflects the strong influence of Chinese Wanli porcelain (1573–1620) on Dutch Delftware production. Delft potters closely studied imported Chinese Wanli “Kraak” porcelain, which arrived in Europe via the Dutch East India Company. They adapted these designs in tin-glazed earthenware, producing the iconic and distinctive Kraak-style blue-and-white Delftware that was highly valued by European collectors for its intricate motifs and cross-cultural elegance.

The reverse bears the mark “R”, likely associated with the De Roos (The Rose) factory or a related Delft workshop active in the late 1600s.

Condition:
Very good for its age, with only minor chipping and slight rim wear consistent with 17th-century use.

Size:
35 cm diameter (13.8 inches)