A RARE CHINESE EXPORT TOPOGRAPHICAL PLATE

CIRCA 1770

Details
A RARE CHINESE EXPORT TOPOGRAPHICAL PLATE
Circa 1770
Depicting Table Bay at the Cape of Good Hope, four Dutch trading ships anchored in the harbor and a longboat of Westerners rowing to shore, the V.O.C. Fort of Good Hope visible at the foot of Table Mountain
9in. (23cm.) diam.

Lot Essay

The distinctive topography of this Dutch outpost would have been a well-loved image for all 18th century China traders, as, beginning in the 17th century, ships of all the Western nations used the Cape of Good Hope for rest and resupply on their long journey.