This beautiful porcelain plate, which measures 23.5 cm in diameter, is from the shipwreck of the Dutch East India Company ship "Geldermalsen" and was salvaged from the South China Sea in 1984, after being at the bottom of the ocean for 233 years. This piece was auctioned at Christies Amsterdam in 1986. The lot number was 3624 (auction "The Nanking cargo") and the original auction sticker is still on the back of the plate. The shipwreck of the Geldermalsen was discovered in 1984. The ship's cargo was salvaged by Michael Hatcher from Britain. After 233 years, the porcelain was still intact. The tea, which had expanded due to being exposed to sea water, had coated the porcelain with a protective layer. The ironic thing is that the cases of porcelain were originally meant to protect the tea; they had to prevent that leaking water would make the valuable tea worthless. The porcelain was only of minor importance to the Dutch East India Company. Only one layer of cases with porcelain was allowed to be stowed in the ship, as opposed to seven layers of cases with tea. The cargo of Chinese porcelain that was salvaged consisted of over 160,000 objects, in blue and white. Among the porcelain objects were 40,000 tea cups and saucers, gravy boats, butter dishes, salt shakers, figures, men's and children's chamber pots, spittoons and beer mugs. The cargo also contained complete dinner services, some of which were suited for a meal for 144 people.