China Trade at Mystic Seaport

Like many maritime museums, Mystic Seaport has a fine collection of items brought to America by sea from China. One such piece is a Chinese porcelain punch bowl. Illustrated in the Museum's book on the Treasures of the Collection, the caption reads as follows:

"Direct trade between America and China began in 1784 when the ship EMPRESS OF CHINA left New York for Canton carrying lead, lumber, cotton cloth, ginseng and silver specie. A year later she returned to New York with a cargo of tea, silks and porcelain, as well as this punch bowl, which had been purchased by the ship's carpenter, John Morgan, who died on the return passage."
Accession number 1938.77