Tin-glazed earthenware charger, circa 1750.
 
Dimensions: Approximately 12” diameter.
 
Decoration:
The white edge is molded in a pie crust design.
 
The rim is decorated in a Kraak style of alternating large panels of stylized floral designs.
 
These large panels are separated by smaller panels with a ribbon design.
 
The center is decorated with a traditional Japanese design of a flower basket (“hanakago-de”) in front of a fence. This design was commonly used on dishes, bowls and chargers of the late 17th and 18th century produced in Arita for export to Holland.
 
The reverse is undecorated.
 
The base bears an unidentified manufacturer’s mark.
 
Delftware blue and white plates and dishes of this period were often decorated in the Chinese Wanli Kraak style, i.e., a border divided into panels of at least two patterns with a pictorial center design. 
 
This example, however, was decorated in the Japanese Arita Kraak style. This closely mimics the Chinese Wanli Kraak style, but with distinctive Japanese elements like this type of flower basket.  
 
With the possible exception of Kakiemon designs, Japanese style decoration is far less commonly found on Delftware than Chinese. A Delftware polychrome example is discussed and illustrated in “Interaction In Ceramics, Oriental Porcelain & Delftware”, Hong Kong Museum of Art, p. 168, Item 121.
 
Condition: There are glaze fleabites, flakes, and frits typical of antique tin-glazed earthenware. Otherwise in excellent condition consistent with age and usage. Please examine the photos; they are part of the description.