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