C. 1608 - Late Ming Dynasty
A large Swatow ware plate painted with two Phoenixes beneath a large chrysanthernum; surrounded by a fishscale decoration and oval cartouches with sprays of flowers and blossoms
Swatow ware is generally coarse; crudely potted and often under fired. Decoration in blue and white is by far the most common
History: Wreck was discovered off the coast of Bin Thuan Province in Vietnam by local fishermmen and excavated in October 2002. Archaeological reserarch confirmed that the Junk was Chinese carrying a cargo of Wanli (1573-1620) "Swatow" porcelain from Zhangzhou in Southern China. Records state that a Junk belonging to Chinese merchant I Sin Ho had been lost in this area in 1608. All indications point to be Bin Thuan wreck being the vessel of the unfortunate I Sin Ho
In March 2004; a small cargo of Ming Dynasty porcelain simiular was auctioned by Christies in Melbourne; Australia
Some crazing to glaze and encrustation otherwise complete and intact
272mm diam