East Asia, China, Longquan, Ming Dynasty, ca. 16th to 17th century CE. A superb set of 9 matching Longquan celadon ceramic dishes consisting of a central octagonal dish and 8 pentagonal or fan shaped dishes. When display together with the dishes surrounding the central octagonal plate, they form an attractive circular formation. These serving vessels may have been for serving and sharing dim sum or condiments. Each piece has marine encrustations from time spent at the bottom of the ocean after the ship they were transported on sank off the coast of Southeast Asia. Size (central octagonal dish): 5.25" W x 1" H (13.3 cm x 2.5 cm); (pentagonal dishes): 3.5" L x 3.75" W x 1" H (8.9 cm x 9.5 cm x 2.5 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.

Provenance: private Lumberton, Texas, USA collection, acquired before 2010

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#170291

Loss to rim on a pentagonal dish. Expected minor nicks, abrasions, and indentations, commensurate with age to rest, otherwise. Intact and excellent with rich marine deposits.