South East Asian Bronze Vessel Group

With high-relief image of a warrior standing with hands resting on his spread legs, wearing a helmet and armour with lion-mask ornament over a flowing floor-length robe, riding boots; stern facial expression. 4.77 kg, 36 cm



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

Each a squat glazed footed bowl with painted floral motifs below the rim to the outer face, concentric rings to the inner face with rosette to the centre. 2.73 kg total, 16.2-16.8 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.

Comprising four small bell-shaped bowls, each with floral motifs and a signature character to the underside. 155 grams total, 64-68 mm wide



From the family collection of a Maida Vale lady, UK.