This heavily potted saucer dish has abstract designs in crackled underglaze blue decoration. These comprise cursory drawings of two floral sprays and two crossed zig-zag lines. A ring without glaze at the centre is also visible. It was part of the 'Nanking Cargo' retrieved from Geldermalse, a Dutch East India Company ship, wrecked in the South China Sea, on its homeward journey, with tea, blue and white porcelain and gold ingots.The cargo of over two hundred thousand porcelain items comprised large quantities of dinner plates, tea cups and saucers, bowls, milk jugs and other matching tableware, which were in high demand in Europe during the 18th century.Wares made of coarser porcelain or stoneware from southern China were also purchased for trade at destinations en route to Europe. The Geldermalsen was on course for the Cape of Good Hope, and as there was little demand for such heavy wares in Europe, it is thought that these were destined for the South African market.
