A splendid pair of large Japanese Arita blue and white porcelain VOC chargers and a rare small VOC dish
Arita, late 17th century

Diam. 36,5 cm (chargers)
Diam. 22 cm (small dish)

Provenance:
Noble collection, the Netherlands (chargers)
Private collection, France (dish)

These expensive dishes were primarily for use by VOC officials in the many different trade posts of the Company in Asia and at the Cape of Good Hope, and possibly also used as diplomatic gifts. To blatantly dine off such expensive custom-made porcelain was exuberant, showing the sheer wealth made in Asia.
The decorations and hue of blue on these dishes always differ to some extent, so to find a pair - which are not assembled later by a collector as in this case - is extremely rare.