Chinese Glazed Blue and White Jar with Peony

Each a squat glazed footed bowl with painted floral motifs below the rim to the outer face, concentric rings to the inner face with rosette to the centre. 2.73 kg total, 16.2-16.8 cm



Ex Nagel Auction, with official Tek Sing Treasure labels to verso. Accompanied by an illustrated information sheet about the Tek Sing shipwreck.

The Tek Sing (True Star) wreck is one of the famous recovery stories of the 20th century. Sailing from the port of Xiamen (then known as Amoy) in February 1822 the vessel Tek Sing was bound for Jakarta, Indonesia laden with porcelain goods and 1600 Chinese emigrants. The captain decided to pass through the Gaspar Strait, between the Bangka-Belitung Islands, and ran aground on a reef. The vessel sank in about 100 feet of water. The next morning, February 7, an English East Indiaman captained by James Pearl, passing through the same waters, encountered debris and some survivors and managed to rescue about 190 of the latter.

Drum-shaped bezel with flange base, incised serpent coil to the upper face and calligraphic text; Javanese workmanship. 4.33 grams, 20.18 mm overall, 14.29 mm internal diameter (approximate size British F, USA 2 3/4, Europe 3.67, Japan 3)



Ex property of a late Japanese collector, 1970-2000s.

Each standing erect on a chamfered base wearing a floor-length robe and with elaborately dressed hair, right hand at the waist and left hand raised to the shoulder supporting a wreath and a bowl of fruit. 989 grams total, 22.2 - 22.7 cm



Ex West Country, UK, collection, 1980-1990s.