In 1602 various Dutch trading companies united to form a single organisation, the Vereenigde Oostindische Compagnie [V.O.C.]. The principal reason was the prospect of great profits to be made in Europe on Chinese products and to supplant the Portuguese who dominated trade in the Far East and the distribution of imported spices, silks and other rare and costly products. Porcelain which formed part of the cargoes of two captured Portuguese ships was auctioned by the Dutch in 1602 and 1604. This was the start of porcelain imports which formed part of the cargoes on V.O.C. return fleets. At this time a new style of still life paintings was emerging and subsequently Chinese porcelain was portrayed in these paintings. The purpose of this thesis has been to research Dutch and Flemish still life paintings from 1600 to 1720 which portray porcelain with the intention of defining the various categories from the artists' depiction of them. Before 1650 the porcelains are mainly Chinese blue and white export wares. After this date Japanese ceramics and some Delftware also feature in a few still life paintings. Part one contains information regarding the V.O.C. and its trade with China and Japan and the different categories of still life paintings which include porcelain. A list of 250 such paintings has been compiled to form an appendix naming artists and other relevant data. Part two contains a selection of paintings from those listed in the Appendix.