1751 or earlier. Salvaged from the Dutch trader, Geldermalsen which sunk in the South China Sea in January 1752 after taking on cargo in Canton, including these porcelains. A portion of the cargo was salvaged and sold at auction in 1986, at Christies in Amsterdam. The saucer retains the original Christie's sale tag identifying it as from the Nanking Cargo. The tea bowl, 3" diameter and the saucer 4 1/2" dia. Both decorated in blue on white with pagodas on rocky islands with gnarled foliage. Matching color and condition with no damage but minor discoloration and glaze flaws as typical for these. At this time saucers were purpose made for use with the cups. Later, as with Worcester porcelain, they were used with the cups and alone for condiments, sauces etc., and thus became known as saucers. Have two sets of tea bowl and saucer. Each set.
