16CM Ming/Transitional Chinese Porcelain Klapmuts Cricket Mask Antique

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Condition Report: Overall Condition A+++; 2 fritspots only. Size; approx. 163 mm diameter

1605-1650

Bowl or klapmuts on a footring and a flat, slightly upturned rim with a scalloped edge.

This klapmuts can be classified as a group V klapmuts according to Rinaldi. Please check the really nice detail of the mask. The mask is often referred to as taotie, on of the oldest symbols used in Chinese decoration. It was represented as early as the Shang Dynasty (1600-1100) BC on bronze and later on jade. There are many variations of the taotie mask, whose purpose was to ward off evil spirits. It is interesting to note that though referred to as a taotie, the representation on the klapmuts is, in fact, most unlike the traditional Chinese monster mask.