Plate with Chinese scene and radial panels in underglaze blue

Large plate with foliated rim, slanting brim, shallow curved well and low foot. On the well inside are eight lotus panels, separated by pillars, enclosing flowers, foliage and miscellaneous emblems. The bull-bloom lotus panel on the bottom is filled up with rocks, birds and flowers. Within the eight lotus panels on the underside are abstracted cloud motifs. A layer of glossy glaze covers the thin white body with bright blue design. Thinly potted large dish of similar paneled designs with either bird and flower or waterfowl as the decorating themes were a novel type of blue and white ware produced for overseas markets. Known as the Kraak ware in the West, it was very popular abroad and has been found in Europe, Japan and Southeast Asia. The plate here bears an epitaph of sixty-four characters, diamond drilled in regular script. It registers that Chen Qisheng, the deceased, of Shicheng County was born in the jiayin year of the Jiajing reign (1554 CE) and died in the gengshen year of the Wanli reign (1620 CE). Chen was married and had six children. The names of his wife, daughter and five sons are recorded.