A Japanese Imari 'Parasol Ladies' charger after Cornelis Pronk, Edo, 18th C.

Dia.: 37,2 cm

Condition: (UV-checked)
- An impact line to the rim at ca. 9 o'clock.
- Numerous losses to the overglaze enamels and the gilding throughout.
- Otherwise in good condition.

In 1734, the Dutch East India Company commissioned Cornelis Pronk to produce designs for a set of China plates. This porcelain, so-called Chine de commande, was produced in China, then shipped to Europe and sold there. Pronk made four different designs, of which 'The Parasol Ladies' was most popular. The Dutch East India Company ended the deal in 1740 because the production and shipping from China proved too costly. The original watercolour for the design is now in the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam (link). The design was quickly adopted on Japanese porcelain.

Ref.:

- A similar but larger Imari charger offered at Sotheby's, London, Sale: Fine Japanese Art, May 14, 2019, lot 100 (est. GBP 70.000-90.000, link).