Rather rare and unusual, both in form and decoration, this late Ming period Chinese export porcelain Swatow basin is decorated in underglaze blue with a central scene of  two cockerels amongst bamboo and prunus within a deep cavetto painted with birds perched upon flowering branches alternating with bamboo and peach, the outer flared rim with a barbed edge with floral designs in reserve against a diapered ground. Swatow wares usually display a very cursory, sometimes slap-dash, style of decoration, rendered rapidly, in washed out tones of blue, whereas here we have strong cobalt blues delineating a complex, detailed central scene and border designs, all within a great form of impressive size. A few very minor rim frits, otherwise remarkably good condition, measuring just under 15″ in diameter, and dating to the early 17th century. $1,450.00