A LARGE JAPANESE ARITA BLUE AND WHITE PORCELAIN 'TREASURE SHIP' DISH

 

Late 19th/early 20th century

 

Centrally decorated with a Dutch ship at sea, surrounded by Wanli-style decorated border, the wide rim decorated with alternating cartouches with ships and panels with Dutchmen, marked with imitation Chenghua mark.
 

Diam. 45.2 cm

 

Note:

Dutchmen and Dutch “treasure” ships are a common decoration on 19th century Arita porcelain, based on an old Japanese belief in raihõshin, foreigners/gods from an unknown land beyond the sea, arriving on treasure ships, bringing happiness and prosperity.