This porcelain plate with a diameter of 23.5 cm was part of the so-called Nanking cargo auctioned by Christie's in 1986. In 1748 a ship called The Geldermalsen (owned by the Zeeland Chamber of the VOC) set sail for the Far East. In 1750 it reached Canton. In 1751, while on its way way back to Netherlands with cargoes of Chinese goods, the ship sank in the South China Sea. In 1986 the bulk of the cargo was salvaged by Captain Michael Hatcher and subsequently sold at Christie's in Amsterdam as the Nanking Cargo. The items were excavated under controlled conditions and sold at the Christie's Nanking Cargo auction; they often have their lot number stickers still on them. This plate is a nice showpiece to elevate your dining room. It's also a chance to dine from a plate nearly 275 years after it was supposed to have been on the table of a wealthy household during the Dutch Republic (1579-1795).