Beautiful and typical border type 2 a, Jiajing/Wanli (1540-1600). The backside with its birds on branches on the rim. Here i see similarities with the bigger charger described before. Also the herons on the front rim.
Late Ming. What you should see on Wanli items is a foot rim that is slightly slanted inward, both on the outside and inside of the rim. You should be able to hang the plate rim on a finger.
Hi Peter, that is interesting, do you mean, hang the plate on your finger from the foot rim or the front side where is slops?
This is indeed interesting, you mean like this?
The whole foot rim of Wanli plates is slightly leaning inwards (both outer and inner face). You should be able to use your finger(s) to prop it up without it sliding off. -- Please make sure that it does not really fall off, just in case you try --.
This should be valid for plates having a diameter of perhaps 19cm or more. Dishes with a relatively smaller diameter may have a vertical inner rim face, and this does not work.
I found this feature to be true for Kraak plates made at Jingdezhen, which usually are relatively thin. But it may not be valid in the case of Zhangzhou (formerly called Swatow) wares, which were made at Fujian kilns and are relatively thick.
Thanks Peter, that is great information.