Chinese Tang Court Lady Figure

Discoid in plan, squat bowl with basal ring, shallow lid with central knop handle; lid with dense gilt scheme of busts and patterned clothing; sidewall with dragons; inside lid, two gilt scholars with a scroll, inside bowl a crouching scholar. 56 grams, 63 mm wide



From a private Tyneside collection, formed since the early 2000s.

Comprising three bowls, one footed with scroll decoration to the outer face; one with tendrils to both faces and decorative border to the outer face; one with dashes and concentric circles; a lidded cylindrical box; two bowls repaired and box lid chipped. 762 grams total, 7.4-14 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.

On a square-section base, modelled in the half-round figure seated on a throne with rosette and other ornament, wearing an ankle-length robe and a tall headdress; triangular panel to the rear with square socket to the reverse; an inscription by the Wu family on the rear giving the date: 3rd year of Daoguang emperor. 16.3 kg, 40 cm



Ex Hong Kong collection, 1970s.