Octagonal dish on round footring, flat rim. Decorated in underglaze blue with a scholar holding a fan followed by his servant passing a fence in a garden landscape. On the rim dancing boys near a fence. On the reverse flower scrolls. Kiln-sand adhering to the base. So-called flat ware (dishes and plates) was still being manufactured in the tradition of kraak porcelain well into the transitional period. However, new decorations were introduced to suit the fashions of the time, such as the motif of a scholar who is retreating into nature for a spell of contemplation followed by his servant carrying his music instrument in its case. This is a qin, a broad, flat, seven-stringed instrument that, like the pipa (cat. 35) is played with the fingers. This shape is rare and may be derived from a Dutch pewter plate. The simplified decoration is redolent of those featured on Japanese transitional ware and may have inspired such Japanese pieces.