East Asia, China, late Ming Dynasty, ca. 17th century CE. A sizable and stunning pottery bowl, known as Swatow ware and presenting impressively thin walls that flare out to a broad rim, all sitting atop a ring-form foot. Boasting blue on white decoration, the remarkable bowl is meticulously glazed with a central tondo of a phoenix amongst meandering vines and floral motifs surrounded by an outer border of abstract geometric and floral patterns. Alternatively, the exterior is embellished by a stylized avian decoration. This dish was likely from South China near Fujian and was headed to Malaysia for trade with the Dutch East India Company, when the ship sank off the coast of Binh Thuan, Thailand in 1608 CE. The name "Swatow" or Zhangzhou most probably derives from Shantou in China, an old junk port along the southeastern coast of Guangdong near Fujian and these ceramics were often destined for export. Size: 14.6" Diameter x 4" H (37.1 cm x 10.2 cm)

According to legend, the phoenix is the most beautiful of all birds, called the feng huang, and the etymology of the name is derived from "emperor." The phoenix will only appear in times of prosperity and peace, second only in the supernatural creatures of the Chinese pantheon to the dragon.

During this time period, China was the great naval power of the East, with technology that surpassed anything that Europe had yet developed; this was the time of Zheng He and China's role as an international trader from the Mediterranean to the south Pacific. As the Ming period progressed, and the political conditions that had held the overland Silk Route together deteriorated, a Maritime Silk Road became more important to Chinese trade. These cups were likely from South China near Fujian and were headed to Malaysia to trade with the Dutch East India Company, when the ship sank off the coast of Binh Thuan Thailand in 1608 CE.

Provenance: private Lumberton, Texas, USA collection

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#169334

Expected nick and abrasion in some small areas. Fading to glaze. Otherwise, intact and excellent with impressively preserved decorative program and nice marine deposits on base.