underglaze painted fritware, decorated with central floral rosette surrounded by chinoiserie scrolling foliate sprigs and lobed medallions containing a pair of flowering plants on dense scrolling ground, the lip with wave and rock design interspersed with scrolls, the underside with drilled rim foot surrounded by repeated floral motifs, and old French label reading: Panneau 4 no. 98 Collection Darses Paris and red wax seal marked W [?], 6.5cm high; 31.5cm diam.

Provenance: Private collection, London. Acquired before 1967.

This dish is typical of the blue and white types produced during the second half of the 16th century, which adapted Chinese motifs and juxtaposed them with more obviously Ottoman forms. Here, we can see elements of two of the styles of the 1570s which are defined by Julian Raby, the 'triple scroll ground' and 'wheatsheaf', both of which feature a central flower-head. The triple scroll on our dish only appears as a repeated element on the rim, while the ear of wheat is combined with Ming style tendrils. These are interspersed with densely decorated medallions which replace the more typical peonies. For characteristic dishes in the 'wheatsheaf' style, see Atasoy & Raby 1989, fig.447, p.41 and Carswell & Moraitou 2023, cat.52, p.106.