Trade goods are objects made in one region specifically for sale or exchange in another, rather than for local use. In the antiques world the term usually refers to the vast quantities of porcelain, lacquer, textiles, silver, furniture and curiosities carried between Asia, Europe, Africa and the Americas by merchant companies and private traders from the sixteenth century onwards.
The great chartered companies, notably the English East India Company and the Dutch VOC, shipped Chinese and Japanese porcelain, Indian chintzes, lacquered cabinets, tea and spices to Europe, while European makers in turn produced brass, glass beads, firearms and cloth for overseas markets. Many trade goods were adapted to Western taste, with European shapes, armorial decoration or familiar motifs combined with Asian materials and techniques. For collectors, such pieces illustrate the meeting of cultures and the early growth of global commerce. Shipwreck cargoes, documented trade routes and surviving company records can add considerable interest and help with dating. Quality varies widely, from fine commissioned pieces to humble ballast wares, so decoration, condition and any traceable history are important when assessing value.
