East Asia, China, Ming Dynasty, ca. 1368 to 1644 CE. A delightful ensemble of 5 blue-on-white porcelain vessels, each boasting scrolling foliate patterns and geometric motifs - 2 with a qilin at the center, 2 with bird designs, and 1 with a phytomorphic decoration. Rich marine encrustations on the surface of these vessels suggest that they were discovered in the South China Sea, headed to Malaysia for trade with the Dutch East India Company, when the ship sank off the coast of Thailand. A beautiful collection of examples - one with an ornate, undulating rim and all with impressively preserved ornamentation! Size of largest (upper left in photo): 10.1" Diameter x 2" H (25.7 cm x 5.1 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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#183683

Third largest has professional repair to rim with break line visible, but other 4 are intact. All have some minor chips to rim, as well as light nicks, pitting, and abrasions to surfaces, all commensurate with age and none greatly affecting form or decoration. A few small, stable, hairline fissures to surfaces. Otherwise, all are intact with an excellent presentation and good preservation of pigments. Marine encrustations in areas.