A Chinese blue and white porcelain 'herring' dish

 

Qianlong period, third-quarter 18th century

 

With two mirrored herrings against plain fond, surrounded by floral border.

L. 23 x W. 17 x H. 3 cm

Note:
The “Herring” dish is a typical example of Chine de commande for the Dutch market, probably based on a Dutch delftware original. Raw herring since long has been a favourite national food in Holland. Dishes with only one herring are more common than ones with two, as the present dish and another one illustrated in Uit Verre Streken, November 2018, no. 42.