Orders for Chinese Porcelain

Chinese merchants shipped these goods to ports in Southeast Asia, and from there other traders distributed them as far afield as the Arabic world and Portugal. Along with Zeelandia, the Dutch trading post in Formosa (Taiwan), the Dutch colonial headquarters Batavia (Jakarta) soon became a main destination for Chinese merchant ships. The pattern of trade changed in the 18th century when China started allowing European traders to enter the country at Canton (Guangzhou). The VOC was one of several European trading companies that established offices and warehouses there. They ordered large quantities of porcelain tableware decorated beautifully in blue and white or with colourful designs and gold detailing. Sometimes the painted decorations replicated designs that VOC merchants had brought with them.