Chinese Tang White Ware Jar

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.

Rectangular slab with incised imagery in two registers: above, rectangular panels with horse, stag and bull; below broad scrolled arch flanked by two smaller versions, based on the chaitya of Buddhist temples; edges chipped. 10.85 kg, 76 cm



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

In collected pose with flexed neck; the fully detailed caparison including a breast-band with bells, billowing saddle-cloth and integral saddle; blanket-like crupper with applied bosses with gilt flowers and hanging tassels, the bridle with gilt bosses. 4.6 kg, 43.5 cm



Ex Hong Kong collection, 1990s. From a London, UK, collection. Accompanied by a copy of a thermoluminescence analysis report no.17CM180321 from Laboratory Kotalla.