Tek Sing Wreck Cosmetic Pot

$94.78

A cosmetic pot with removable lid. The top is decorated with an elegant orchid pattern.

Date: Circa 18th-19th century AD
Period: Qing Dynasty
Condition: Very fine condition.

SOLD

SKU: ES-18759 Category: Tags: ,

The Tek Sing (which means “True Star” in Chinese) was a large Chinese junk, which sank on 6th February 1822 in an area of the South China Sea, known as the “Belvidere Shoals”. Undertaking its attempted journey from Amoy to Jakarta were 1600 emigrants and an enormous cargo, which included silks, spices, and 350,000 pieces of Chinese porcelain. Indeed, some of the cargo was even strapped to the ship’s hull, but its tight packing allowed it to become the largest cargo of Chinese porcelain ever to be salvaged from a wreck.

The great loss of life associated with the sinking has led the Tek Sing to be referred to in modern times as the “Titanic of the East” (cf. Nagel Auctions, ‘Tek Sing Treasures’, 2000, TS 137).

 

Weight 28 g
Dimensions W 8 cm
Country

Culture

Pottery and Porcelain

Region

Reference: Michael Hatcher, The Legacy of the Tek Sing: China's Titanic - Its Tragedy and Its Treasure, pp127-55, Granta editions.