18th Century Delftware Bowl with Chinese Figures

Dutch tin-glazed molded octagonal earthenware bowl, circa 1710.
 
Dimensions: Approximately 11¼” x 11¼” x 2⅛”.
 
Decoration:
The plate is decorated in a naïve cobalt blue hand-painted imaginary of a Chinese scene of a boy fishing in a river.
 
On both riverbanks adults look on. On the left bank, a man in a large hat stands under a parasol held by a child. On the right, two women are in conversation.
 
A tree with a bird in its branches extends over the water. There is a diving bird in the sky as well as two objects that appear to be Chinese auspicious symbols.
 
The design appears to be based upon a Japanese Arita version of the pattern, which in turn may have been based upon a Chinese version. With the disruption of the Jingdezhen kilns in the middle of the 17the century, the Dutch East India Company (Vereenigde Oostindische Compagnie or VOC) turned to Japan to provide porcelain for the Dutch market. This was primarily blue and white wares produced at the Arita kilns.
 
In the catalog “Interactions in Ceramics Oriental Porcelain and Delftware”, Jorg notes that this Japanese pattern was very popular in the Netherlands, leading to delftware interpretations such as this. (In addition to an example of the Japanese version and a delftware version, the catalog also has an example of a rare late 18th century Dutch porcelain plate of this design.)
 
The reverse bears the mark of De Drie Porceleyne Flessen (The Three Porcelain Bottles) during the period of ownership by Willem van der Kool.
 
Interestingly, a flower basket above the head of the Taoist immortal Lan Caihe in the Chinese version appears to have been transformed into a parasol in the Japanese version, which has been retained in the Dutch version. 
 
It is likely that the Japanese version would be the first to incorporate this change. However, there is an interesting alternative explanation. A number of Japanese designs were based on earthenware models sent by the Dutch East India Company to Japan’s Arita kilns for production. Accordingly, the Japanese version may differ from the Chinese based on a Dutch model, the Dutch having misinterpreted the flower basket for a parasol.
 
Condition: Some light glaze grazing; otherwise in excellent condition consistent with age and usage. Please examine the photos; they are part of the description.