Ancient Civilizations
Antiques, Artifacts & Fine Collectibles
Ancient Chinese Han Dynasty 7.64” Glass Vase
“Deep Sea Treasure” or in Chinese “Haidilao”
Western Han Dynasty
c. 206 BC—9 AD
eBay Note:
NOTE: William Houghton, the President of ANCIENT CIVILIZATIONS, a State of Washington Licensed Business, assumes all responsibility for the information contained in this description and for the English translation and transcription of any ancient Chinese graphic characters. Furthermore, I prohibit the further dissemination of this information in any written, video, or electronic format without my expressed, written approval. Thank You!
SUMMARY
Item: Chinese Han Dynasty Green Glass Vase
Country: China
Dynasty: Western Han Dynasty
Est. Date: 206 BC—9 AD
Find Location: Gulf of Tonkin, near Hepu, China
Material: Green glass with heavy mineral coating
Measurements:
· Height: 7.64” (194 mm)
· Width: 3.12” (79 mm)
· Depth: 2.52” (65 mm)
· Weight: 1.185 lb. (19.0 oz.) (538 gr.)
Condition:
No repairs or restorations are noted on this lovely, green glass vase that is about 2,000-years-old. This vase is in “as found” condition from the bottom of the Gulf of Tonkin, in the area off Hepu’s coast and has not been cleaned of any of the sea debris, salt, and barnacles that are attached to the vase. It even has a single, large root/seaweed attached to the inside of the vase. In Chinese, vessels like this are called “haidilao,” literally meaning "deep sea dredging" or “deep sea treasure.”
Provenance:
In the 1960s, a few pieces of a sunken trade ship’s precious cargo were sea-washed ashore off the Gulf of Tonkin coast near Hepu, China. This vase was purchased in the early 1960s by the grandfather of the family that I purchased it from. This 2,000-year-old vase remained in the family’s private collection for over 60 years until it was acquired by this site at auction in Hong Kong. This is the first time it has been for sale in the United States. Currently it is in my private collection Washington State, USA.
DETAILS
This vase was found by fishermen in the Gulf of Tonkin near the southern China city of Hepu. During the Han Dynasty, this city became a thriving southern seaport on the easternmost end of China’s maritime trade route with India and the Mediterranean; it was known to have a thriving glass industry. In the 1960s, a few pieces of a ship’s precious cargo recovered from a sunken trade vessel in the Gulf of Tonkin near Hepu, China.
Hepu is a county under the administration of Beihai City in southeastern Guangxi, China. It borders Lianjiang (Guangdong) to the southeast, Bobai County to the northeast, the Gulf of Tonkin to the south.
In antiquity, Hepu county was originally part of a larger county, which encompassed part of Guangxi, Guangdong, and even parts of Hainan. It was established in 111 BCE by Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, during the first Chinese domination of Vietnam. During the brief interruption of the Han dynasty by Wang Mang, many of his opponents were exiled and banished to Hepu.
As noted above, it has a very thick coating of minerals that suggests it rested on the sea bottom for millennia. Only if one shines a bright light on the outside of the vessel can you see the green light shine through to the inside of the vase. {Please see photos.}
The recessed base of this four-sided, green glass vase has a single character that appears to have been painted on and that identifies the workshop that cast it. The thick mineral coating prevents me from seeing it clearly enough to translate it. {Please see photos.}
The double-eared vase also has two images that were cast into the glass. Again, the thick coating of minerals prevents me from positively identifying the two images. But under UV light, the two images may be those of butterflies. {Please see photos.}
REFERENCES:
• The Ancestral Landscape, David N. Knightley, 2000
• Chinese Characters, Dr. L. Wieger, S.J.
• Metropolitan Museum of Art, NYC
• Archaeology, Archaeological Institute of America, Feb/March 2015
• Shanghai Museum, China
• Museum of Chinese History, Beijing, China
• National Palace Museum, Taipei, Taiwan
• British Museum, UK
Please examine the macro photos carefully as they are part of the description.
The stand and ruler are not part of the auction, just included to give you a better perspective.
And please ask any
questions before you buy.
International Buyers are responsible for all import duties, import taxes, shipping charges and insurance costs.
International Returns are NOT accepted.
Note: Please ask any questions you may have before you bid! Thanks for Looking!