CHINESE EXPORT NANKING CARGO BLUE AND WHITE CHARGER
c. 1750, "Lattice Fence" pattern, 15.25"diam.
Salvaged from the Dutch Geldermalser cargo ship which sank January 3, 1752, carrying dinner services ordered by the Verenigde Oost-Indische Compagnie (VOC).
Prov. From a Massachusetts home purchased from Lynda Willauer Antiques, Nantucket, who acquired the charger in 1986 at Christies' Amsterdam, The Nanking Cargo Auction, Lot 3537; retains Christies'sticker; also See Howard's The Choice of the Private Trades, pg. 96-97,
In Canton, a new crew came on board. Geldermalsen's new captain was a 33 year old man by the name of Jan Diederik Morel. Morel oversaw the inventorying and loading of the final cargo to be taken on before the ship headed for home. Along with 239,200 pieces of porcelain, the detailed cargo manifest notes textiles, tea and lacquerware. There was also a chest containing gold pieces.
The ship left Canton in December 1751. On January 3rd, 1752, after 16 days at sea, the weather was fine and the seas were good. The captain, believing he was oriented properly based on the sighting of a small island used to set course, gave orders to head south.
Just after dark, the boatswain saw breakers in front of the ship and yelled a warning, but it was already too late. The Geldermalsen crashed into a reef that was just below the surface. She managed to get free, but because of an incorrect order given by Morel, she ran onto the reef again. By this point, the ship was damaged beyond being seaworthy. One of the lifeboats was also damaged while being lowered, and out of an original crew of 112, only 32 men survived.
Estimate: $600 - $800
Realized: $500 - Excluding Buyer's Premium
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Lot 319 : CHINESE EXPORT NANKING CARGO BLUE AND WHITE CHARGER
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