A Chinese famille rose armorial cup and saucer with VOC coat of arms, dated 1728, Yongzheng Dia.: 10,5 cm (the saucer) H.: 3,5 cm - Dia.: 6,5 cm (the cup) The arms and motto belong to the Dutch Republic. The letters 'VOC are the cypher of the 'Verenigde Oost Indische Compagnie', the Dutch East India Company. The design has been accurately copied from one side of a silver coin, issued by the Company in 1728 for use in the Far East. Even the ribbed milling of the coin is imitated in the rim of the saucer and the inner rim of the cup. The tea service to which this cup and saucer belonged was arguably commissioned by the Company to commemorate the successful launch of its new coinage and may possibly have been used by its employee at the Company's different official bases throughout the Far East. See also: - The Victoria and Albert Museum, London (no. 645B&C-1907) (link) - The British Museum, London (Franks.797.+) (link) - Rob Michiels Auctions, Oct. 12 2015, for four sets from this service (Sold €9.945, €12.750, €10.200, €10.837,5 0) (link) - Christie's, New York, Jan. 24 2012, Sale 2528, Lot 105, for another cup and saucer of this service from the Peter H.B. Frellinghuysen Jr. Collection of Chinese Export Porcelain (Sold $11,875) (link)