Shopping at the Guangzhou Fair in October 1599, Francesco Carletti (1573–1636)

This article reconstructs the commercial activities of Francesco Carletti, the first independent merchant to circumnavigate the globe, at the Guangzhou Fair of October 1599. Drawing from Carletti's detailed chronicle, it analyses his significant purchasing power—derived from American silver—and his strategic acquisition of Chinese goods for the European market. The core of the study focuses on Carletti’s porcelain purchases, providing a rare, itemized account of types, quantities, and prices, including kraak and kinrande wares. His first-hand observations offer invaluable insights into late Ming export porcelain, its varieties, market preferences, and astonishing affordability. Furthermore, the article uses Carletti's records to investigate the clandestine trade of imperial yellow wares and the phenomenon of extraordinarily large jars. Ultimately, this case study illuminates the mechanics of the global luxury trade and the pivotal role of Chinese ceramics therein at the dawn of the 17th century.