The Wanli Shipwreck.com
Kraak porcelain from The Wanli Shipwreck
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Click on above images to view Antique Ming dynasty Porclain for sale
Nanhai Marine Archaeology LLC
as agents for Nanhai Marine Archaeology Sdn. Bhd..
Malaysia Email to us
The full catalogue "The Wanli Shipwreck and its Ceramic Cargo" is now out from the printer. The catalogue is 27 x 27 cm and includes more than 650 color photographs, sketches, maps and drawings. For preview and ordering of the catalogue, please visit our Publication page.
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REVIEW:
This publication sets new standards for the reporting and analysis of shipwreck sites in Southeast Asia. Its two most important elements are a full accounting of the archaeological excavation itself and then an inventory of the artefacts recovered. Significantly, the artefacts include a major cargo of some 37,000 pieces Chinese kraak porcelain that the authors (after thorough analysis) assign to +/- 1625. The solid archaeological context for the ceramics adds significant new data to studies of 17th century ceramics that now requires previous studies be reviewed and refined. Besides 650 full color illustrations, there are drawings, maps and illustrations of the site, both ceramic and non-ceramic artefacts, and ship parts and fittings. One section systematically reviews the symbolism of the blue and white designs, and another gives the historical background for their production in China. The report documents a fruitful relationship between Malaysia’s Department of Museums and Sten Sjostrand of Nanhai Marine Archaeology that began in the early 1990s. The excavation of The Wanli Shipwreck in Malaysia’s territorial waters is only the latest chapter in their joint efforts to illuminate history through projects in maritime archaeology. The accumulated details of this shipwreck site reveal a surprising and explosive history – the date, the historical circumstances, the mounds of shattered porcelain associated with broken and missing hull planks lead intractably to the theory that the vessel was a Portuguese-managed ship that sank in a sea battle with Dutch forces that were seeking to control the port of Melaka.
Dr. Roxanna M. Brown,
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STUNNING REPORT SETS NEW STANDARD
AFTER MORE THAN 30 years being pitifully thankful whenever any report at all appeared, and being quietly disappointed by one incomplete report after another, I am ecstatic that this new volume sets a welcome high
standard. It is presented in full color, with all the 234 types of ceramics in the cargo documented, an inventory of all the non-ceramic items, description of the archaeology, and a complete account of the ship’s structure and the state of its physical remains. Most important, the numbers of each type of artifact are
stated or at least estimated. With numbers, many welcome analyses become possible. The wreck was originally given the site name Wanli by Sten Sjostrand because the jar that led to the search was similar to one on the San Diego (1600) wreck from the Wanli (1573-1619) reign. Analysis of the recovered cargo however led to ‘about 1625’ as a more likely date for the wreck RMB.
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MESSAGE
I am extremely proud to have encouraged this project that throws light on Malaysia’s past as part of a worldwide trading network. Over the past dozen years maritime archaeology has added a huge volume of unexpected primary data and thousands of artefacts to our knowledge of history. The Wanli Shipwreck, the subject of this publication, is only the most recent site in a series of explorations of underwater sites off Malaysia. One after the other, nine sites have been investigated off the east coast of our peninsula since 1994. For this, we can thank Sten Sjostrand of Nanhai Marine Archaeology who systematically identified the sites and openly shared artefacts as well as knowledge. These sites join a list of other wreck sites investigated by various other entities in previous years.
My own personal visit to the waters above the Wanli ship’s wreckage in 2004 allowed me to appreciate the investigation even more fully. There is a strong element of adventure involved with finding old shipwrecks, but adventure can be empty and selfish if there are no higher concerns. In this case those higher concerns included a full, thorough documentation of the remains of the vessel and all its remaining cargo.
FOREWORD
Since the 1990s, maritime archaeology has been one of most important sources of significant numbers of new acquisitions for the Department of Museums Malaysia (formally, Department of Museums and Antiquities). This has led the department to create a special extensive exhibition on Malaysian maritime archaeology which was initially planned to be only a temporary display. However, because of its popularity with museum visitors and its significance for understanding our maritime history, the exhibition has been continuously extended since its original opening in late 2001.
I am pleased to note that this is the third publication to be sponsored by the Department of Museums Malaysia. The first was a catalogue by Roxanna Brown and Sten Sjostrand entitled Maritime Archaeology and Shipwreck Ceramics in Malaysia (2002) for the maritime exhibition mentioned above. The second a summary of all work done with marine archaeology in Malaysia by Sten Sjostrand, Dato' Adi Haji Taha and Samsol Sahar. This third publication presents the entire Wanli (1625) shipwreck project and all its artefacts.
The Department of Museums has now worked together with Nanhai Marine Archaeology Sendirian Berhad on the excavation of two important sites, namely the Desaru wreck site and The Wanli Shipwreck site. In sharing the excavated artifacts, the department has always acquired the unique and rare items along with a selection of all the ceramic types discovered as per agreements. To date, more than twenty-two thousand artefacts are in our possession from these two wreck sites. Many of the items are now on display in the maritime exhibition together with artefacts from eleven other shipwreck sites which were previously excavated.
The publication of this book has two significant aspects. First, it contains a report on The Wanli Shipwreck excavation and a catalogue of the excavated artefacts to meet the terms of the agreement which was signed by Sten Sjostrand of Nanhai Marine Archaeology Sendirian Berhad. Second, it includes reports on subjects related to the project by the young staff of the department which testifies to their serious commitment to underwater archaeological research under the guidance of Sten Sjostrand.
Underwater archeology is an important research area because shipwrecks hold significant testimony to our past. A ship is a social, economic and administrative entity that reflects its historical time which froze with its sinking. It is thus significant for shipwrecks to be studied systematically and scientifically because of their immense heritage value. I believe this book will be a significant contribution to research on many aspects of maritime archaeology, especially in shipping technology, and on trade patterns and trade goods together with other historical facets.
I wish to express my appreciation to Sten Sjostrand and Sharifah Lok Lok for their unrelenting efforts in writing and supervising the production of the illustrations for this publication and to other staff of the department who participated in The Wanli Shipwreck project. The authors are to be commended for their serious commitment in presenting original research on the history of the ceramic industry of the period by making visits to Jingdezhen kiln sites and having sessions with ceramic experts in China.
Lastly, I trust the book will be well received by scholars and public alike and hope it will lead to further research on trade, trade ceramics, and underwater archaeology in the region.
Dato Dr. Adi Haji Taha
Director General
Department of Museums Malaysia BACK TO CATALOGUE
The excavation required an intimate acquaintance with the sea and with the boats, ships and heavy equipment required for underwater exploration. Brave, experienced and safety-conscious divers were essential. Good planning coordinated the dive operations with weather and sea conditions. Tenacity carried the exploration forward through five diving seasons even when it became clear that most of the artefacts were damaged in what is theorized to have been an explosion that sank the vessel. An enterprise with only adventure diving or financial reward as its goal would have floundered.
I am happy to say that this project in underwater archaeology did not flounder. On the contrary, this publication offers a definitive view of a shipwreck on the seabed off Terengganu. The process of onboard artefact recording, dive planning and artefact preservation and following research in which the Maritime section of the Department of Museums and Antiquities fully shared, is brought together here as a thorough account of the finds and some essential analysis of their import. Of course, there will be future analysis and the Department of Museums is charged with keeping the nation’s share of the artefacts safe for future research.
Datuk Seri Utama Dr. Rais Yatim
Malaysia's Minister for Culture, Art and Heritage.
THE ONLY PLACE WHERE YOU CAN BE SURE TO BUY GENUINE ANTIQUES
Nanhai Marine Archaeology Sdn. Bhd. was incorporated on the recommendation of the Malaysian authorities. This was done in order to formalize and to expand on the founder’s extensive knowledge of Asia’s ceramic developments and maritime trade.
The company’s researchers have been engaged in the search for historical shipwrecks for more than two decades and another decade researching maritime trade. Most of this work is concentrated to the South China Sea, a virtual highway for ancient shipping linking China to India, the Middle East and Southeast Asia in an extensive maritime trade system. This ancient trade started sometime around the 4th century and lasted well into the 19th century.
Following a successful shipwreck discovery, the company obtain a government permit to excavate the wreckage, and then carry out detailed marine archaeological procedures in recovering the artifacts, mapping the ship's remains and securing other data for future research. After each concluded project and following conservation of recovered artifacts, we search for and pinpoint ruined kiln sites and compare its wasters with the recovered ceramics until we are satisfied we located the place in which the shipwreck pottery was made centuries earlier.
As such we have precisely located a kiln sites in Sisatchanalai, northern Thailand in which our Royal Nanhai and the Nanyang shipwreck celadon ware was made around AD. 1380-1460. (See videos on: http://www.china-pottery.com/photopage.html ) Other kilns was located in Sukhothai where production wasters matched the fish and flower plates found on the Turiang and the Longquan shipwreck. These unique underglaze decorated wares was made at those exact kilns 600 years before we found them on the shipwrecks in Malaysia! Our latest shipwreck cargo; The Wanli Shipwreck, of Chinese blue and white porcelain, was likewise pinpointed to the Guangyinge kiln site in Jingdezhen, China. (See video on: http://www.china-pottery.com/photopage.html )
Our arrangement with the Malaysian authorities is such that we finance all operations and train young Malaysian nationals (on our initiative) in maritime archaeology and related research. After giving all unique and single artifacts and thirty percent of all recovered items to the National Museum (and assisting with exhibitions of artifacts from eachhttp://www.mingwrecks.com/of reports, books and catalogues are available on these pages as well as on a separate Internet site.
Due to the unquestionable authenticity and precisely dated shipwreck pottery, many International Museums now display our shipwreck pieces as reference material. (See: http://www.mingwrecks.com/collections.html for a list of these musems).
The artifacts sold on this website are therefore legally and properly excavated and can be supplied with an export permit from the Department of Museum in Malaysia should this be required. This unique working arrangement makes us one of the few Internet sellers that sell from own excavation and issues a meaningful Certificate of Authenticity for every (numbered) piece sold.
So, if you are interested to purchase some of our Chinese porcelain and other shipwreck artifacts from the Song dynasty, Ming dynasty, or 19th century Qing porcelain or the famous Yixing teapots, you can rest assured that every piece is excavated through proper archaeology by our own staff. We do not sell anything that is not excavated by ourselves or properly recorded and researched before offered for sale so every piece comes with the “Best possible provenance”
WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO EMAIL OUR PRINCIPAL RESEARCHER; Sten Sjostrand SHOULD YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT YOUR POSSIBLE PURCHASE
MORE INFORMATION ABOUT MING DYNASTY PORCELAIN, KRAAK PORFCELAIN AND CHINESE PORCELAIN
Nanhai Marine Archaeology LLC
as agent for Nanhai Marine Archaeology Sdn. Bhd.
Kuala Rompin. Malaysia.
Phone: + 609 4131002. Fax: + 609 4132996 Email to us
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Here is a short section on 'fake' pottery
Archaeology, blue and white porcelain and Asian pottery
About Wanli porcelain, archaeology, blue and white porcelain and shipwrecks
17th century porcelain, Portuguese shipwreck & blue and white porcelain
Chinese porcelain, Portuguese shipwreck & blue and white porcelain
The Wanli catalogue and Chinese 17th century porcelain
Jingdezhen, the porcelain centre of the world
For more information about antique porcelain and Asian pottery
More old time pottery, Asian pottery and Chinese blue and white porcelain for sale
For Old time pottery, Asian pottery and 17th century ming porcelain
Chinese blue and white porcelain from the Ming dynasty for sale
Internet's cheapest antique gift wares
Buying antique celadon wares from the 15-16th century
To buy underglaze painted wares from the 14th to the 16th century
Chinese blue and white porcelain from the Ming dynasty
Antique pottery and porcelain at affordable prices
All about 17th century Chinese porcelain
Publications about shipwrecks, antique porcelain and Asian pottery
Affordable antique porcelain and pottery
17th century Chinese porcelain shard collections for sale
17th century Chinese porcelain bottles, kendis and gourd bottles for sale
Affordable antique porcelain spoons and other giftware
19th century Chinese Yixing teapots and teapot marks
View our museum collections of ancient porelain and pottery
About the Desaru (1830) shipwreck in the South China Sea
Pottery as found onboard our shipwrecks
About the Longquan (1400) shipwreck in South China Sea
Nanyang, a 14th century shipwreck loaded with Sisatchanalai celadon
About ancient pottery from shipwreck excavations
Royal Nanhai, a fully loaded shipwreck from the 15th century
All about 10 ancient shipwrecks in the South China Sea
Singtai, a 16th century shipwreck in the South China Sea
About Malaysia's oldest shipwreck. 11th century
Xuande, a 16th century shipwreck in the South China Sea
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2/11/07
