East Asia, China, late Ming Dynasty, ca. 17th century CE. A lovely collection of 4 pottery bowls, each presenting ring-form feet and impressively thin walls that rise to gently flared rims. All enveloped in white glaze, each of the vessel features a bare, unglazed ring at the bottom of the interior basin. One bowl is additionally adorned with a rectangular symbol on the base, while 2 others boast rich marine encrustations of salt, shells, and barnacles formed from centuries spent on the ocean floor. Size of largest: 2.9" Diameter x 1.3" H (7.4 cm x 3.3 cm)

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, acquired before 2010

All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.

A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.

PLEASE NOTE: Due to recent increases of shipments being seized by Australian & German customs (even for items with pre-UNESCO provenance), we will no longer ship most antiquities and ancient Chinese art to Australia & Germany. For categories of items that are acceptable to ship to Australia or Germany, please contact us directly or work with your local customs brokerage firm.

Display stands not described as included/custom in the item description are for photography purposes only and will not be included with the item upon shipping.

#169383

All have a few expected light abrasions. Otherwise, all are intact and excellent. Two have rich marine encrustations.