T50 A rare “Y pattern background” dish, Hongzhi, Ming Dynasty

Description

Description:   Chinese dish painted in underglaze blue with the typical scheme of the dishes of its period, roundels (in this case probably representing lotuses) on a background of “Y” shaped lines, cleverly placed in a way resembling interlaced. This dish is surely dated to the Hongzhi period thanks to the discovery of the Lena Shoal Cargo shipwreck, see Notes below. Many dishes recovered from that cargo were decorated with different variations of such scheme. Nonetheless, the present dish is not belonging from Sea excavation, which makes it a rare example.

Dating:  15^th century, Hongzhi period, Ming dynasty.

Size:  31 cm diameter

Provenance:  Antiquarian market

References:  The last picture is showing a contemporary dish decorated with the same scheme, excavated in the Philippines during an archaeological excavation campaign of Michigan’s University.

Notes:  About the Lena Shoal shipwreck, here are Notes from the site of the National Museum of Philippines at the following link:

https://www.nationalmuseum.gov.ph/our-collections/maritime-and-underwater-cultural-heritage/maritime-pandanan-shipwreck/

“The Lena Shoal shipwreck was accidentally discovered by fishermen in the waters of Busuanga, northern Palawan in the early part of 1996. Significant looting occurred before the National Museum of the Philippines (NMP) and the Far Eastern Foundation for Nautical Archaeology (FEFNA) carried out archaeological excavations. More than 7,000 archaeological specimens comprising high-fired ceramic trade ware from China, Thailand, Vietnam, and Burma, along with earthenware, elephant tusks, tin ingots, glass beads, bronze bracelets, and gongs, and organic materials were recovered. Analysis of the Chinese and Southeast Asian ceramic wares puts the date of the shipwreck to the late 15th century during the reign of Chinese emperor Hong-zhi (1488-1505). The remains of the wooden hull measured approximately 18.3 meters long and 5 meters wide; it is estimated that the ship’s original length was approximately 24 meters while having a carrying capacity of about 100 tons. The cargo of the Lena Shoal shipwreck reflected the internationality and diversity of maritime trade in the 15th century. The dominant cargo of ceramic wares was produced in the kilns of China, Thailand, Vietnam, and Burma, while other artifacts likewise came from different areas in China and Southeast Asia. The presence of Islamic-influenced ceramic shapes and motifs among the cargo suggests that the Lena Shoal shipwreck may have been destined for Islamic communities in the southern Philippines and elsewhere in Southeast Asia.”