East Asia, China, late Ming Dynasty, ca. 17th century CE. A beautiful ensemble of 4 bowls, each presenting a ring-form base and flared walls that rise to a wide, annular rim, all enveloped in a lovely, celadon-hued glaze. The interior walls of each vessel is incised with an abstract, swirling motif. Note the rich marine encrustations of salt, barnacle, and shell deposits that naturally embellish their surfaces - wonderful souvenirs from centuries spent on the ocean floor! Size of largest: 10" Diameter x 2.9" H (25.4 cm x 7.4 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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#170300

Largest is repaired with break lines visible. The other 3 have chips and minor losses to rims. All have expected nicks, abrasions, and softening of detail, as shown. Otherwise, the 3 more petite bowls are intact, and all are excellent with rich marine deposits. Heavy sea encrustations to 1 of the petite vessels inhibit it from sitting flatly on foot.