Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
Ceramics, Room 145

Saucer

ca. 1725 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This object was salvaged from the wreck of a trade ship thought to be a Chinese junk, dating to approximately 1725. This date corresponds to the reign of the Kangxi emperor (1662-1722) of the Qing dynasty (1644-1911). The wreck was discovered off the Southern coast of Vietnam in 1998 near Ca Mau. The wreck is now commonly referred to as the Ca Mau wreck.
The ship was loaded with Chinese porcelain of various designs for export to South Asia and Europe. This object is one of a group of 182 pieces of porcelain acquired by the V&A from this wreck.


Object details

Category
Object type
Materials and techniques
Porcelain painted in underglaze blue
Brief description
Blue and white porcelain saucer
Physical description
Painted in underglaze cobalt blue with a design of a miltary figure, a lady and an official near a pavillion.
Dimensions
  • Diameter: 7cm
Styles
Production typeMass produced
Object history
This object was salvaged from the wreck of a trade ship, probably a Chinese junk dating to approximately 1725. This date corresponds to the reign of the Yongzheng emperor (1723-1735) of the Qing dynasty (1644-1911). The wreck was discovered off the Southern coast of Vietnam in 1998 near Ca Mau. The wreck is now commonly referred to as the Ca Mau wreck. By 1999 a total of 51,500 pieces had been recovered form the wreck.

It was loaded with Chinese porcelain of various designs for export to South Asia and Europe. This object is one of a group of 182 pieces of porcelain acquired by the V&A from this wreck. These objects were sold through Sotheby's, Amsterdam at sale AM0967 'Made in Imperial China: 76,000 pieces of export porcelain from the Ca Mau shipwreck, Circa 1725' which took place in 2007.

Historical significance: This object provides useful information about trade, trade routes, design and markets for Chinese ceramics during the 18th century.
Subject depicted
Summary
This object was salvaged from the wreck of a trade ship thought to be a Chinese junk, dating to approximately 1725. This date corresponds to the reign of the Kangxi emperor (1662-1722) of the Qing dynasty (1644-1911). The wreck was discovered off the Southern coast of Vietnam in 1998 near Ca Mau. The wreck is now commonly referred to as the Ca Mau wreck.
The ship was loaded with Chinese porcelain of various designs for export to South Asia and Europe. This object is one of a group of 182 pieces of porcelain acquired by the V&A from this wreck.
Collection
Accession number
FE.55:2-2007

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Record createdNovember 21, 2008
Record URL
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