This tin-glazed earthenware dish is painted in the 'famille verte' palette (derived from Chinese porcelain where the predominant colour is green) but has motifs arranged in a manner probably inspired by Kraak porcelain. The central image is a European figure of ‘Plenty bearing her cornucopia’ – a symbol of abundance. Such large flat dishes are referred to as ‘chargers’ and were typically used to decorate European homes. Small quantities of Chinese porcelain first found their way to Europe in the 14th century. The Portuguese were the first Europeans to establish a trading base in Macau (1557) where they traded in Chinese porcelain. Vast quantities of wares were exported to Europe during the 17th century, with the entry of the Dutch, then English and other European trading companies. Cargoes bound for Europe at this time, mainly comprised blue and white porcelain. One of the most popular types were Kraak porcelain.The term ‘Kraak’ was probably derived from the word ‘carrack’ referring to a type of Portuguese ship that brought porcelain to Europe. It could also be derived from the Dutch word ‘kraken’ which means ‘the ability to break easily’ or the term for a style of shelves used for porcelain display in Dutch homes.
