漳州窯五彩航海魚紋大盤

CN-2-10-01-3-B-0184

This plate was produced in Zhangzhou during the 16th and 17th centuries. It was made of pottery that has been glazed and porcelainized, which looked like a porcelain texture. The surface of the plate is painted with hand-drawn enamel colors with unique patterns of large fish, ships, and navigation compasses. The drawing style of the fish is  close to Western painting, which is a distinctive feature  pattern of Zhangzhou ware.

Zhangzhou ware was a trading porcelain at the Age of Exploration during the 16th and 17th centuries. Taiwan had already been an important trading port in the early 17th century, with the Netherlands, Spain, Japan, and China as its main trading partners. The main trading items were spices, tea, silk, and pottery, especially the Zheng’s group. At that time, the trading porcelain was mainly exported through Zhangzhou Yuegang and then traded via Taiwan. In recent years, many trading porcelains have been unearthed in Penghu and Tainan, indicating Taiwan’s international trade status at that time.

Producer：unknown

Production Year：16th – 17th centuries

Origin：Zhangzhou

Size：(W)38.8 cm (H)9 cm    

Weight：2.2 (kg)