Sold Ceramics
Sold Shipwreck Porcelains
Unidentified Shipwreck wares
Page 1
In this category sold objects are added that have been submerged in seawater for a long time and were, most likely, part of an unidentified shipwreck's cargo.
Sold Ceramics - Sold Shipwreck Porcelains - Unidentified Shipwreck wares - Page 1
Object 2011009
Dish
China
c.1625
Height 35 mm (1.37 inch), diameter of rim 220 mm (8.66 inch), diameter of footring 115 mm (4.53 inch), weight 294 grams (10.37 ounce (oz.))
Dish on footring, flat rim with slightly scalloped edge. Some kiln sand adhering to the footring. Decorated in underglaze blue. In the centre medallion two deer - with a fungus and an abstract motif which may be the peach fruit - in-between a landscape with rocks, plants and a pine tree encircled by a double band. The sides and rim with large panels filled with peach and narrow panels filled with dots. On the reverse large panels filled with dots.
According to Rinaldi this dish can be classified as a Border V dish. Border V is characterized by large segments separated by narrow ones. The decoration on the border is less crowded than on other groups. Each large section usually contains a dainty floral or fruit spray or insects, and allows plenty of undecorated space around each design. In the narrow sections there are only dots or a thinly-drawn knotted ribbon. In contrast to the airy border, the central medallion is rather crowded. The underside, following the inside pattern, is divided into large sections with symbols or jewels. and narrow segments with lingzhi. (Rinaldi 1989, pp.88-91)
The deer is said to be the only animal that can find the 'lingzhi fungus', together with the pine tree they represent longevity. The decoration is rather crudely executed with bold outlines and careless fill-in. It is likely that that these dishes are those referred to in old Dutch records as 'badly painted crude ware'. Volker suggest that it was a second grade Jingdezhen ware. (Sjostrand & Lok Lok 2007, pp.208-213)
Interesting details on this dish are the small size of the base compared with earlier examples, the blue is dull and almost shadeless and the clearly shown impressions left by cloth imprinted under the glaze in the central medallion.
Most of the dish's glaze has worn of, it was, most likely, part of a shipwrecks cargo, possibly the Wanli shipwreck, c.1625. On the base the residue of a (silver) label, now removed.
For identically decorated dishes, please see:
- Kraak porcelain. A moment in the history of trade, (M. Rinaldi, Bamboo Publishing Ltd, London 1989), p.91, Pl.75.
- The Wanli Shipwreck and its ceramic cargo, (S. Sjostrand & S. Lok Lok bt. Syed Idrus, Ministry of Culture Arts and Heritage, Malaysia, 2007). pp.218-213.
For identically decorated dishes found in a cesspit of in use between 1600 and 1625 of a building on the Oudezijds Voorburgwal in Amsterdam and in a cesspit in use between 1620 and 1630 of a building on the Staalstraat in Amsterdam and in please see:
Condition: firing flaws to the centre, the base and the rim, various glaze rough spots to the rim.
References:
Rinaldi 1989, pp.100-105 & Pl.75
Sjostrand & Lok Lok 2007, pp.208-213.
Campen & Eliëns 2014, Fig. 1 & Fig.20
Price: Sold.
Sold Ceramics - Sold Shipwreck Porcelains - Unidentified Shipwreck wares - Page 1
Object 2010503
Teapot
China
c.1725
Height 132 mm (5.19 inch), diameter handle to spout 183 mm (7.21 inch), diameter of footring 70 mm (2.76 inch)
Pear-shaped teapot on footring, straight spout and C-shaped handle, domed cover with pointed knob. Decorated in underglaze blue with a boy riding on the back of a buffalo while throwing his hat in the air. Another buffalo follows close behind the first one as they pass through a valley landscape, foothills of mountains in the distance. On the cover similar lobbed panels decorated with flowers.
The design on this teapot is known as the 'Boy on a Buffalo' pattern. Although without the original Sotheby's - UNICOM - CA MAU - BIN THUAN label with number and without the original Sotheby's sale AM0967 (MADE IN IMPERIAL CHINA 76,000 PICES OF CHINESE EXPORT PORCELAIN FROM THE CA MAU SHIPWRECK, CIRCA 1725) lot 1091/7 label, this teapot was, most likely, part of the porcelain cargo of the Ca Mau Shipwreck, similar shaped and decorated teapots were sold divided over the lots 366, 368-370 & 377. (Amsterdam 2007, pp.102-111)
Condition: A fleabite to the side of the top of the spout, as this piece has lain on the sea bed for 300 years, some loss of glaze shine can be expected, this simply adds to the rich history of the piece.
Reference:
Price: Sold.
Sold Ceramics - Sold Shipwreck Porcelains - Unidentified Shipwreck wares - Page 1
Object 2010564
Tea caddy
China
c 1725
Height 120 mm (4.72 inch), diameter 77 mm (3.03 inch), diameter of mouthrim 32 mm (1.26 inch), diameter of footring 45 mm (1.77 inch)
Tea caddy of ovoid form on footring, applied scroll work at the spreading foot, domed pierced cover with pointed knob. Decorated in underglaze blue with a boy riding on the back of a buffalo while throwing his hat in the air. Another buffalo follows close behind the first one as they pass through a valley landscape. On the cover a floral decoration.
The design on this tea caddy is known as the 'Boy on a Buffalo' pattern. Although without the original Sotheby's - UNICOM - CA MAU - BIN THUAN label with number and without the original Sotheby's sale AM0967 (MADE IN IMPERIAL CHINA 76,000 PICES OF CHINESE EXPORT PORCELAIN FROM THE CA MAU SHIPWRECK, CIRCA 1725) lot 1091/7 label, this teapot was, most likely, part of the porcelain cargo of the Ca Mau Shipwreck, similar shaped and decorated tea caddies were sold divided over the lots 366, 368-370 & 377. (Amsterdam 2007, pp.102-111)
Condition: A small restoration to the rim of the cover.
Reference:
Price: Sold.
Sold Ceramics - Sold Shipwreck Porcelains - Unidentified Shipwreck wares - Page 1
Object 2010599
Teapot
China
c.1725
Provenance: Previous in the collection of a German collector who worked in Vietnam and bought the teapot 25 years ago on a local market. Fishermen found this teapot and cover together with other ceramics in their nets. He had it restored by a local craftsman who added a steel or low purity Oriental metal spout and handle.
Height 132 mm (5.19 inch), diameter handle to spout 193 mm (7.60 inch), diameter of footring 70 mm (2.76 inch)
Pear-shaped teapot on footring, curved steel spout and C-shaped handle (both replaced), domed pierced cover with round knob. Decorated in underglaze blue and various overglaze enamels with various scattered branches, round the mouth rim a border with cartouches. On the cover a similar decoration with scattered branches an around the rim of the lid also a border with cartouches.
All the enamels, except for three tiny green spots, have been eroded by the sea now remaining only visible as ghostly outlines. Although without the original Sotheby's - UNICOM - CA MAU - BIN THUAN label with number and without the original Sotheby's sale AM0967 (MADE IN IMPERIAL CHINA 76,000 PICES OF CHINESE EXPORT PORCELAIN FROM THE CA MAU SHIPWRECK, CIRCA 1725) lot 1091/7 label, this teapot was, most likely, part of the porcelain cargo of the Ca Mau Shipwreck, two similar shaped and decorated teapots were sold in lot 433 togehther with four other shaped teapots.. (Amsterdam 2007, p.119, lot 433)
Condition: All over fine crazing to the glaze with a few glaze hairlines to the body, loss of glaze shine can be expected, this simply adds to the rich history of the piece.
Reference:
Price: Sold.