Dish 1733 - 1743

This Delftware dish was painted around the 18th century by Cornelis Pronk in the Netherlands. It embodies the phenomenon of "chinoiserie," a European style reflecting Chinese artistic influences. The central scene depicts figures in a Chinese garden, engaging in conversation, a composition that draws heavily on European fantasies of the far east. The border is decorated with panels of fish and geometric patterns, motifs frequently found in Chinese export porcelain. The Dutch East India Company’s extensive trade with China, provided the Dutch with unprecedented access to Chinese goods and imagery. The dish offers a window into the cultural exchange and artistic adaptation of the period, reflecting both an interest in and a reimagining of Chinese aesthetics within a European context. Delving into archival sources from the Dutch East India Company and studies of decorative arts will help you better understand the cultural significance of pieces such as this.