Twee Blauw - Witte VOC Tabakspotten in Delfts Aardewerk. Toscaanse & Macuba.

The balustroid body decorated with a calumet smoking Indian under a large tobacco plant with a large, covered vase behind him, one inscribed with TOSCAANSE and with MACUBA. Further a large barrel and bales of tobacco on the left inscribed with V.O.C.  With sailing vessels on the background. The brass domed covers with a finial. The brass covers of later date. Marked on the bottom in underglaze blue with three bells for:

DE DRIE KLOKKEN
DELFT  - HOLLAND
Last quarter 18th century

Height: 26,5 / 35 cm. (10,4 / 13,8 inches.)
Diam.:  23 cm.   (8,3 inches.)      
Weight: 1.743 & 2.012 Grams.

V.O.C.
VEREENIGDE OOSTINDISCHE COMPAGNIE.
Established 421 years ago in 1602 in Amsterdam.

The Dutch East India Company was a power full trading company that helped establish Dutch rule in what is now Indonesia. In 1602 the Dutch government granted the company a monopoly on trade between Asia and the Netherlands. The company also received broad governmental and military powers, including the right to rule territories and to wage war in Asia. In 1700 the Dutch East India Company had gained control of the cinnamon, clove and nutmeg trade in the East Indies. The Company had trading posts in many Asian countries and ruled parts of what are now South Africa and Sri Lanka and most of present-day Indonesia.