Thai Bronze Head of Buddha

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.

Modelled in the round standing figure of a courtier wearing a floor-length sleeved gown over his robe, bearded head with stern expression, pillar-box cap with folded brim detailing, decorative hem to the outer garment; the arms held before the body with folded back bell-sleeves supporting a cloth-covered container. 144 kg, 1.03 m



Ex Hong Kong collection, 1990s. From a London, UK, collection.

Each a barrel-shaped jar with scrolling decoration, lappets and dragons' heads. 2.66 kg total, 15.5 cm each



From the collection of the famous Eve Clarke.