A Very Rare Chinese Porcelain Figure from the Geldermalsen ‘Nanking Cargo’ Shipwreck

Qianlong Period c.1751, Probably Jingdezhen Kilns. Sold at Christie’s Amsterdam in 1986, this very rare figure from the cargo sold for Fl.22,040 (Dutch Guilders) equivalent to €10,000  (£8,728) in 1986. A Chinese export porcelain porcelain figure of a woman standing on a plinth, the biscuit porcelain has areas that are glazed in celadon green and cobalt blue. The undecorated biscuit porcelain face was perhaps originally cold-painted. This Chinese porcelain figure is illustrated on the front cover of the Nanking Cargo catalogue, and in the catalogue as well as in several books (see References) This is a very rare survival from the wreck of the V.O.C. (Verenigde Oostindische Compagnie) ship the Geldermalsen, referred to as The Nanking Cargo, would have be part of the privileged Private Trade allowed by V.O.C. to the Captain and officers of the ship. This figure is illustrated in the Christie’s catalogue of the action of 1986, and Dr. Christiaan Jörg’s book ‘The Geldermalsen, History and Porcelain’ and also ‘The Nanking Cargo’ by Michael Hatcher with Antony Thorncroft (see references). Fragile objects like this figure pf a woman was stored away safely by the officers, they were allowed to sell them to supplement their income from the V.O.C.

Stock Number 27287

See Below For More Photographs and References.

SOLD