Old time pottery, Chinese porcelain and Asian pottery from marine acheology at clearance prices

Artifact set 13

In this set you will find a porcelain spoon from the Desaru (c. 1830) shipwreck, a small celadon jarlet from the Royal Nanhai (AD. 1460) shipwreck a porcelaneous 'white' bowl from the Longquan (AD.1400) shipwreck, a green-glazed saucer from the Turiang (AD. 1370) shipwreck and a 'turtle' bowl from the Wanli (AD.1625) shipwreck This set will be delivered with four Certificate of Authenticity.

Price USD. 185.00

640 year old fish and flower plates

Sukhothai fish and flower plates from the Turiang (1370) shipwreck. These plates feature a painted fish (long life) or a 'docmai' flower in the center. Whilst there were numerous fish plates in the Turiang cargo, there were very few flower plates. The flower plates are also very hard to find in the antique market but there are many 'fakes' being made. The technique of painting with iron oxide over a slip layer, is the earliest type of underglaze painting and represents a 1,500 year old Chinese tradition. These plates are VERY RARE. Proper Sukhothai clay is light reddish and always shows white quartz crystals which cannot be seen in modern reproductions.

MING DYNASTY PORCELAIN from The Wanli (c. 1625) Shipwreck.

The 550 year old celadon wares offered on this page were recovered from the Royal Nanhai (c.AD. 1460) shipwreck site. They are in remarkably good condition despite their long stay on the seabed. The sometime deteriorated glaze was due to iron oxide (from the glaze matrix) which crystallized on the surface and then when in contact with saltwater corroded the glaze. This is yet another provenance factor! The celadon's were made at Ban Ko Noi & Ban Pa Yang, Sisatchanalai, (as can be seen on the video to the left) by immigrating potters from the famous celadon kilns in Longquan China.

For higher quality celadon alternatives,

go to: Celadon wares

Chinese blue & white Chrysanthemum bowls from the late Transitional period (AD. c. 1700) wrecksite. These bowls are from a 'wreck site' rather than a shipwreck. It is most likely that the ship hit a nearby reef, punched a hole in its hull, anchored and jettisoned the bowls in order to facilitate repair. All bowls in this group have small rim chips and a few (if noted) show very fine hairlines. All bowls are about 14 cm in diameter.

Each bowl is delivered with a Certificate of Authenticity.

Sten is a naval architect who spent more than thirty years in Southeast Asia, primarily designing and engineering marine structures. Sten has an academics enthusiasm for ancient ceramics and has written numbers of books and lectured extensively in the subject.

An champion sailor and diver he has discovered a number of shipwreck in the South China Sea and assisted museums world-wide to exhibit and to collect meaningful ceramic collections.

Sten's company; Nanhai Marine Archaeology Sdn. Bhd.. works with Malaysia's Department of Museums and Antiquities and can therefore offer a legal Export Permit from the Department when so required.

Sten has located number of ancient kiln sites in Thailand and in China were his shipwreck ceramics was made centuries ago. He is therefore able to offer absolute provenance on all ceramics sold via Nanhai Marine Archaeology Sdn. Bhd. and, with good concience sign every Certificate of Authenticity supplied with all artefacts.

The maritime archaeology of Sten Sjostrand has led to major advances in the study of Asian trade and trade ceramics in Southeast Asia. His meticulous documentation of a series of nine shipwrecks from the 11th to 19th centuries reveals the early dominance of Chinese trade ceramics, a subsequent loss of the Chinese monopoly in the late 14th century when Southeast Asian ceramics entered the market, the basic parameters of the Ming gap shortages of the 14th-15th centuries, and a resurgence of Chinese wares in the 16th and 17th centuries. Just as important, Sjostrand freely shares the information from his discoveries. Researchers are welcome at his headquarters where he documents his finds and patiently answers the queries of others. A lifetime’s experience with the sea and sailing allows Sjostrand to bring new understanding to ancient ship construction, and his voluminous reading allows him to set the ships and their cargoes in historical perspective.

Dr. Roxanna M. Brown

Director.

Southeast Asian Ceramics Museum

Bangkok University, Rangsit campus

Pathum Thani 12120, Thailand

Old time pottery, Chinese porcelain

and Asian pottery from marine

archeology at clearance prices.

Nanhai Marine Archeology LLC. Delaware. USA.

as agents for Nanhai Marine Archaeology Sdn. Bhd. Malaysia. Email to us

REST ASSURED OF PROPER AUTHENTICITY!

All types of Wanli (Ming dynasty) artifacts for sale on this page are depicted and discussed in a catalogue written by this company's principal researcher; Sten Sjostrand. For more details about the catalogue: "The Wanli Shipwreck and its Ceramic Cargo" Click here

This page shows the more affordable ceramic pieces form the shipwreck site. For higher quality pieces, please visit: Wanli: Ming dynasty porcelain wares

Each artifact is delivered with a Certificate of Authenticity.

Tender edges , or as the Japanese more graphically described it, 'moth-eaten' edges is a technical fault in early 17th century porcelain. This effect is seen when the glaze breaks off in patches along sharp edges in a rather irregular manner and particularly common on the rims of bowls, dishes and plates. The cause is complex, but is mainly due to the physical properties of the raw materials and the varying surface tensions of the ingredients of the body and glaze. The fault was overcome in the later part of the 17th century when the potters adjusted the proportions of raw materials.

Tender edges is a commonly acceptable factor for authenticity and should not be mended, as a principle, as it adds to the provenance of the ware. The 'faking' of 'tender edges' is not possible as the edges of the broken off pieces cannot be made as sharp at the original.

These twin deer plate are made at the famous porcelain center of Jingdezhen, China. Own research at these ancient kiln sites has confirmed that this type of plates was fired at the Guanyinge kilns. These kilns are located just north of the old city zone. The deer's are always depicted below a pine tree. Some of these plates shows the common 'tender edges' which belongs to the period and provide additional authenticity.

Due to the firing technique, most of these plates shows sand grits adhering to the foot-ring

Small bowls with unique 'turtle' design. There are two blue lines along the rim and and a double-line circle in the well exhibiting another 'turtle' motif. Some of these bowls shows limited 'tender edges'

All bowls: 9 cm diameter General view of the interior

Typical view of the reverse.

All plates are about 21-22 cm in diameter

Ser. No. W-6199

This intact plate shows soft and smooth decoration. The plate is intact with high resonance. There is no warping in the plate and there is little 'tender edges

Price USD. 175.00

Ser. No. W-1172

Totally intact plate with light, clear, and contrasty decoration. This is one of the best plate of its kind. The plate is soft and smooth to the touch. There are no 'tender edges'

Price. USD. 215.00

Ser. No. W-6038

Nice, intact, plate where the decoration is well executed. Very little warping and good resonance sound when tapped. The plate is smooth to touch and show little 'tender edges'

Price. USD. 135.00

Ming dynasty 'Turtle' bowls from The Wanli (c. 1625) Shipwreck.

Ser. No. W-7531

This bowl is intact with a satin glaze finish. There is very little 'tender edges' along the rim. Delivered with a Certificate of Authenticity.

Price. USD. 95.00

Ser. No. 5106

WINE GRAPE bowl from the Wanli C.1625 shipwreck) with one plant painted on the interior. The external border shows a continuous scroll of grape and tendrils. The bowl shows some 'tender edges' along the rim. Glaze condition is reasonable good.