A rare Chinese famille rose sugar bowl and cover Qianlong c.1770

A rare Chinese famille rose sugar bowl and cover Qianlong c.1770, each side depicting a view of the Dutch East India company outpost at the Cape of Good Hope, and with four ships in full sail, 12cm. (2) The Cape of Good Hope, approximately midway between Europe and China was a favoured resupply stop for China traders of all nations, and thus a fond subject for porcelain. held by the Dutch since 1652, the Cape was first explored by the Portuguese and, in fact, Table Mountain or "Montanha da Mesa" at 3,500 feet high owes its name to the Portuguese Antonio de Saldaha. In 1503, en route to the Red Sea in his (Nau) Taforeia, Salsanha anchored off the coast of South Africa and became the first European to ascend the Mountain. The advantages if the site became apparent with the regular commercial voyages of the 16th and 17th centuries.