A PAIR OF CHINESE EXPORT BLUE AND WHITE PORCELAIN ‘DUTCH-MARKET’ BOTANICAL PLATES, QING DYNASTY, QIANLONG PERIOD, CIRCA 1740 清 乾隆青花 花卉纹盤一组 After botanist Marie-Sybille Merian, each decorated in underglaze cobalt blue and overglaze gold to the interior with an iris, an orchid and insects, all within a leafy strapwork border at the broad flaring rim (2) Diameter: 23.3cm For a discussion of this attractive design see Chinese Ceramics in the Collection of the Rijskmuseum, Amsterdam, by C.J.A. Jörg & J. van Campen, Amsterdam, 1997, page 287, cat no. 334, where the author suggests it may have its source from another print design Condition Report One plate with two hairline rim cracks (1.5 and 2.5cm long) and rubbing and some loss to the gilded decoration; the other plate with two hairline rim cracks (3 and 3.5cm long)