THE HOI AN HOARD SHIPWRECK LATE 15TH/EARLY 16TH CENTURY

The Hoi An Hoard shipwreck,Late 15/ Early 16th century Vietnamese ceramics. Large underglaze blue and white enameled dish, the interior well painted with a stylized leafy peony medallion within double blue rings, the cavetto with a band of cloud scrolls repeated on the exterior side. Three small footed jarlets, each decorated with panel of plants alternating with parading birds, some outstretched wings, all set within narrow blue rings, a band of overlapping petals encircling the rim. One small box decorated with central floral medallion with radiating jeweled lappets, the side with lotus petal reserves featuring floral and geometric motifs. The Jarlets, like the ones from Hoi A wreck were "....sometimes used as patung gana-gana or "magic pots," to contain a magic substance called pupuk that was used in divinatory rituals". (P. 183). The most popular bird that adorn their pottery is the Oriental Magpie Robin, chich choe. Provenance: Butterfield & Butterfield San Francisco,2006.