Chinese Ming "Wanli Shipwreck" Blue and White Jars

Set of four small porcelain blue and white jars from the Wanli Shipwreck of 1625. Two of the jars are decorated with dragons and snakes; the other two have floral designs.

As the story goes, around the year 1625, the Portuguese had acquired a cargo of chinaware and pottery in Macau before the ship set sail for Batavia, which is now Jarkarta. The ship never arrived at its destination. It was sunk in a battle with Dutch forces that were seeking to control the port of Melaka, laid buried in the seabed and was not discovered until 400 years later. The ceramics recovered had been made in the town of Jingdezhen during the reign of Emporer Wanli (1573-1620). The interesting thing is that this cargo has become a perfect time capsule of 17th century trade goods exported from China.

Accord

• China Circa 1625
• Each piece: Diameter: 3" | Height: 3.25
• Item #7835
• Price: $900