Hoi An Hoard Vietnamese Shipwreck Cosmetic Box c1480

Hoi An Hoard Vietnamese Shipwreck Cosmetic Box and Cover c1480

The Hoi An Hoard
The Thai vessel carrying the cargo sank in the 15th century near the port of Hoi An. In the early 1990s, fishermen trawling for squid and red snapper stumbled upon the wreck. Many pieces were sold in the Vietnamese antique market before the Vietnamese government stepped in and engaged a Malaysian salvage company to recover the remaining items during the summers of 1998 – 1999. The find was termed the "Hoi An Hoard" and the majority of pieces were sold at auction in 2000 by Butterfields in San Francisco.

The Hoi An shipwreck is a very important record of Vietnamese types of blue and white and enamelled wares found during the 2nd half of 15th century. It displays a richness of form and decoration previously unknown to ceramics experts on Vietnamese wares. The cargo included dishes, pouring vessels, bottles, jars, cups, bowls, figural ceramics, and covered boxes.


This box is beautifully hand painted, the lid with a bold flowerhead surrounded by foliage and an attractive border.