This small cosmetic pot/box with cover was made in about 1725 at a porcelain works in Jingdezhen in southern China. It is of circular form with flattened domed cover decorated with a hand painted medallion of simple stylised flowers, the bowl with stylised lappet borders. This lidded cosmetic box  came from the Ca Mau Shipwreck ( which sank between 1723-1735,) which Vietnamese fishermen discovered off the coast of the Ca Mau Peninsula in southern Vietnam in 1998.

It is believed the wreck was a Chinese merchant’s junk on its way from Canton (Guangzhou) to Batavia when it caught fire and sank in about 1725. The goods on board had been ordered by the merchant for Dutch traders who had limited access to China and its ports. This is a real collector’s item.

The cargo was sold at a Sotheby’s auction in January 2007. This pot still has the original sticker on the base as well as the hand written collection number on both the lid and lower part of the box.

Size: Diameter: approx. 65mm