Ref: P870
£ 350
Price is subject to availability and market conditions.
Chinese blue and white circular box and cover from the Ca Mau wreck, Yongzheng (1723-1735), the top decorated with peony and grasses issuing from rockwork within a circular cross-hatched band, enclosed by floral sprays, the base with further floral decoration
Notes:
This is an example of a number of boxes we have from the Ca Mau wreck.
The Chinese Ca Mau junk was probably going from Canton to Batavia (now Jakarta) Some porcelain on board had the reign mark of Yongzheng (1723-1735) which served to date the wreck. The disaster struck off the Ca Mau peninsular when the ship caught fire. The fire was indicated by some porcelain being fused together due to intense heat.
The principal traders between China and Europe at this time were the British ‘East India Company’ and the ‘Dutch East India Company’ (Vereenigde Oost-Indische Compagnie, VOC).
In Europe at this time coffee and tea drinking was very popular and therefore the wreck contained a huge number of cups. In all, 130,000 pieces were recovered and 76,000 of the finer condition pieces were selected to be sold at auction 'Made in Imperial China. 76,000 pieces of Chinese Export Porcelain from the Ca Mau Shipwreck, circa 1725' by Sotheby’s Amsterdam on 29, 30 & 31 January 2007. (Amsterdam 2007, pp.6-7)
