Swatow ware or Zhangzhou ware is a loose grouping of mainly late Ming dynasty Chinese export porcelain and were initially intended for the Southeast Asian market. One of the likely reasons for this trade developing from Swatow has to do with the disproportionate numbers of ethnic Chinese migrating to Southeast Asia from Guangdong and neighboring Fujian province. The traditional name in the West came about because Swatow, or present-day Shantou, was the southern Chinese port in Guangdong province from which the wares were believed to have been shipped. The many kilns were probably located throughout the coastal region,[2] but mostly near Zhangzhou, Pinghe County, Fujian. Production mainly takes place between 1575-1650. Compared to Jingdezhen porcelain, Zhangzhou is made much rougher with mostly sand grains at the base. Pieces were usually thrown with wheels, but molds were also used to form pieces. It is a rather coarse, grayish, yellowish or white porcelain with a covering. Decoration in blue and white was the most common. The decors are casually painted. The “Sketchy Decoration” group uses a bold, brushed style, freehand and spontaneously painted” by a single craftsman. On display is an antique Chinese deep thick round serrated plate belonging to Swatow or Zhangzhou porcelain. It has a thick greyish pate covered with a thick opaque greyish bluish glaze. In the center it has a sketchy decoration in underglaze grey-blueish cobalt of an animal figure with a mottled pattern all around. It is spontaneously hand painted in a bold brushed style. On the border we see a frieze of geometric motifs. Naive but attractive decor. The back is thickly glazed up to the base ring. The transition shows a godroned pattern in relief. Circles alternating with rows of vertical stripes are displayed on the edge. The base ring with a circular red iron ring is unglazed and has sand grains attached to it. The center with a gray glaze layer shows many pits. The sign is not marked. It certainly dates back to the late Ming dynasty, Wanli Imperial period around 1600.

Condition: firing flaws on the front and back. Otherwise impeccable condition.