Shipwreck Porcelains - The Vung Tau Cargo, c.1690

Object 2010657

Cup

China

c.1690

Provenance: The Vung Tau Cargo. Chinese Export Porcelain sale, Christie's Amsterdam, 7-8 April 1992.

Height 47 mm (1.85 inch), diameter of rim 72 mm (2.83 inch), diameter of footring 34 mm (1.34 inch), weight 66 grams (2.33 ounce (oz.))

A Fujian, of blanc-de-Chine porcelain, cup with a high footring steep sides and a straight rim. (On the cup the original Christie's ''Vung Tau Cargo' lot label proving it has been one of 30 cups sold in lot 507. The original Christie's 'Vung Tau Cargo' sale lot label to the base is missing. (Amsterdam 1992, p.65)

Until recently, all unpainted, white pieces with a creamy, smooth glaze that is well fused with the body, were named blanc-de-Chine and supposed to have been made in the kilns of Dehua in Fujian province. The figures of Guanyin, of immortals, sages and others were highly appreciated in the West, in particular for adorning the interior. As the Hatcher wreck has shown, figurines and other blanc-de-Chine wares were already part of the export assortment in the mid-17th century, while English East India Company papers document their popularity in Europe around 1700. Such pieces fitted excellently into the demand for curious, new and exotic pieces, and for rarities and thus delivered good profits to their importers. Gradually, however, more information has become available about the complexity of the Dehua production, the many kilns that produced these wares in a wide area around Dehua, the differences in quality and the imitations made elsewhere. The Vung Tau cargo has simply added another piece or two to the puzzle, making us realise once again that blanc de Chine is only a very generic name and that. in fact, we know little about these wares. (Jörg & Flecker 2001, p.85)

Two varieties of blanc-de-Chine cups, one in two sizes the other in three all undecorated, were salvaged, which were most likely teacups,

The first variety is small on a low footring, has spreading sides and a flaring rim

The first type of this first variety measures 60 mm (2.36 inch) in diameter and 35 mm (1.37 inch) in height, in total only 108 of these 60 mm (2.36 inch) small (tea)cups were sold divided over the lots; 508 (60 items) and 509 (48 items). For an example of this (tea)cup, please see:

Shipwreck Porcelains - The Vung Tau Cargo, c.1690 - Object 2010656.

The second type of this first variety measures 75 mm (2.95 inch) in diameter and 40 mm (1.57 inch) in height, in total only 385 of these 75 mm (2.95 inch) small (tea)cups were sold divided over the lots; 510 (100 items), 511 (100 items). 512 (100 items), 513 (60 items) and 514 (25 items). For an example of this (tea) cup, please see:

Shipwreck Porcelains - The Vung Tau Cargo, c.1690 - Object 2012137.

The second variety has a thick higher footring and is deeper with steep straight sides.

The first type of this second variety measures 70 mm (2.36 inch) in diameter and 50 mm (1.37 inch) in height, in total only 66 of these 70 mm (2.76 inch) small (tea)cups were sold divided over the lots; 506 (36 items) and 507 (30 items). For an example of this (tea)cup, please see:

Shipwreck Porcelains - The Vung Tau Cargo, c.1690 - Object 2010657.

The second type of the second variety measures 60 mm (2.36 inch) in diameter and 37 mm (1.37 inch) in height, in total only 302 of these 70 mm (2.76 inch) small (tea)cups were sold divided over the lots; 515 (100 items), 516 (100 items). 517 (60 items) and 518 (42 items). For an example of this (tea)cup, please see:

The Vung Tau Cargo. Chinese Export Porcelain, auction catalogue Christie’s Amsterdam, 7/8 April 1992, pp.65-67, lots 515-519.

The third type of this second variety measures 45 mm (1.77 inch) in diameter and 25 mm (0.98 inch) in height, in total only 523 of these 45 mm (1.77 inch) small (tea)cups were sold divided over the lots; 519 (100 items), 520 (100 items). 521 (100 items), 522 (100 items), 523 (60 items), 524 (36 items) and 525 (27 items). For an example of this (tea)cup, please see:

The Vung Tau Cargo. Chinese Export Porcelain, auction catalogue Christie’s Amsterdam, 7/8 April 1992, pp.65-67, lots 519-525.

Condition: A hairline to the rim.

References:

Jongsma 1992, pp.453-456

Amsterdam 1992, lots 508-509

Jörg & Flecker, 2001, fig. 92

Price: € 299 Currency Converter