East Asia, China, late Ming Dynasty, ca. 17th century CE. A fascinating collection of 4 pottery bowls, each presenting a minimalist yet elegant form with a ring-shaped foot and impressively thin walls that rise to a gently flared rim. Each of the vessels is enveloped in a white glaze, save for a ring of bare porcelain on its interior basin. Blue-painted Chinese characters adorn the base of 2, while the bases of the other 2 are bare. Note the rich marine encrustations naturally embellishing the surfaces of all 4 - lovely souvenirs from centuries spent on the ocean floor! Size of largest: 3.1" Diameter x 1.5" H (7.9 cm x 3.8 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

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#169382

All have expected nicks, chips, and pitting, commensurate with age. Otherwise, all are intact and excellent with heavy marine deposits.