Chinese Song Green Glazed Dish

Comprising a deep cup with floral motifs to both faces, the saucer with a garden fence with an elaborate flower trellis. 115 grams total, 7.1-11.4 cm



Ex Sotheby's, Amsterdam, 29-31 January 2007. Accompanied by an illustrated information sheet about the Ca Mau shipwreck. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.

The Ca Mau shipwreck refers to a cargo of Chinese porcelain sunk between 1723 and 1735 off the coast of Vietnam. The wreck was discovered by Vietnamese fishermen in 1998. It is believed the wreck was a merchant’s junk on its way from Canton (Guangzhou) to Batavia when it caught fire and sank. The ship was carrying goods destined for Dutch traders who had limited access to China and its ports.

Square in plan with low L-shaped feet, domed lid; hatched fields with reserved vegetation motifs; inner face and lid with neat columns of dense pointillé text; the lid reading: 'Son, Zhang-Kechang laid his father to rest in this grave', the base reading: 'The late Mr. Zhang (Yuzhen) was born on the 17th September 1786 (Qianlong reign) during the morning, around 9-11am. - He passed away on the 27th January 1848 (Daoguang reign) - He was peacefully buried on the 26th of the same [lunar] month (1st Feb 1848). On a Dingyou day, with the grave opened in the early morning and the burial taking place just before noon, at a mountain in his home region. - The tomb is aligned in a traditional Chinese grave, seated on Qian mountain (NW), facing Xun (SE), with straight deviation toward Si and Wu direction (SE to S)'. 300 grams, 11.1 x 7.9 cm



From the private collection of a Canadian gentleman living in Essex, UK, formed since the 1920s-circa 1990. Property of an Essex lady until the late 1990s; thence by descent. From the private collection of an Essex gentleman since the late 1990s. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.

Each with elongated body leonine legs and paws with spurs to the joints, head thrown back and mouth gaping, tongue protruding and beard extending to the chest, two curved goat's horns; lateral 'wing' to outer flank; some pigment; some restoration. 23.55 kg total, 52.5-53.5 cm high



Acquired from a gallery in Hong Kong. Private collection, Hong Kong, acquired in the 1990s. Private collection, London, acquired in the 2000s. Accompanied by an original of a thermoluminescence analysis report no.C125k89 by Oxford Authentication for one of the pair. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by a search certificate number no.12885-240555. This lot has been cleared against the Art Loss Register database, and is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.