Chinese Tang Glazed Dish

Comprising: six shallow plates with a painted scene of a two-storey house on a rocky landscape; six matching cups with similar scenery to the outer face. 652 grams total, 76 -117 mm



Ex Christie's, Amsterdam, 28 April-2 May 1985. Accompanied by an illustrated information sheet about the Nanking shipwreck.

On Monday 3rd January 1752, the Dutch East India Company ship Geldermalsen, struck a reef on her return journey to the Netherlands and sank in the South China Sea. The cargo of Chinese porcelain was originally potted in Jingdezhen, Jiangzi province. The cargo was recovered by Captain Michael Hatcher and his team in 1985.

Both standing on a rectangular base in a wide stance, wearing conical hats, boots and black cross-over robes tied at the waist with a red belt; separately modelled heads with delicately rendered faces; both showing one raised arm (one with hand absent) and the other held at the side covered by the voluminous sleeve; repaired. 3 kg total, 33-34 cm



From a West Country, UK, collection, 1990s.

Footed bowl with painted blue floral motifs and circumferential lines, rosette to inner centre and signature to underside. 423 grams, 16.5 cm



Property of a North London, UK, gentleman.

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.