Chinese Wei Stone Statue Torso

Comprising two cream glazed bell-shaped bowls with large petals surrounding the foot. 656 grams total, 13 cm each



Ex Butterfield and Butterfield auction with official Hoi An Hoard labels. Accompanied by an illustrated information sheet about the Hoi An shipwreck. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.

In the mid 15th century a freighting junk loaded with fine Vietnamese pottery sank in an area of the South China Sea called the 'Dragon’s Embrace.' This vessel is part of the shipwreck cargo recovered off the coast of Vietnam at Hoi An. The ceramics themselves were probably made in the area of Chu Dau.

A shallow plate with painted tendrils and feather design decoration to the upper face. 283 grams, 17.5 cm



Ex Nagel Auction, with official Tek Sing Treasure labels to verso. Accompanied by an illustrated information sheet about the Tek Sing shipwreck. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.

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.

Seated on a lion-skin covered pedestal, wearing long robes and a tall jewelled crown, resting his left hand on a thick belt with buckle and right hand on his knee; elongated earlobes and serene expression with downcast eyes; neck repaired. 240 kg, 1.25 m



Ex K.C. collection, London, 1990-2000. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D’Amato. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.

The statue possibly depicts either bodhisattva Manjushri, the bodhisattva of wisdom, or bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara, the bodhisattva of compassion. Both are often depicted sitting on a skin of lion, or on a lion, which represents their use of wisdom to control the mind.