Ming Dynasty Jewelery

Oasismoon is proud to showcase "Tradewind Treasures", jewellery,homeware, and decorative items crafted from ancient shipwreck porcelain shards and sterling silver.

Tradewind Treasures is unique because its provenance (origin) is guaranteed. It is the only collection where the blue-and-white porcelain shard can be traced to an actual time and place in history. The shipwreck cargo, from where the shards were acquired, was legally excavated in conjunction with Malaysia’s Department of Museums and Antiquities.

The porcelain shards originate from the ceramic export cargo of two shipwrecks: I) from a Portuguese merchantship (carrack) given the name “Wanli” circa 1625. ii) and a Chinese junk “Desaru” dated circa 1830.


Oasismoon is proud to showcase "Tradewind Treasures", jewellery,homeware, and decorative items crafted from ancient shipwreck porcelain shards and sterling silver.


Tradewind Treasures is unique because its provenance (origin) is guaranteed. It is the only collection where the blue-and-white porcelain shard can be traced to an actual time and place in history. The shipwreck cargo, from where the shards were acquired, was legally excavated in conjunction with Malaysia’s Department of Museums and Antiquities.

The porcelain shards originate from the ceramic export cargo of two shipwrecks: I) from a Portuguese merchantship (carrack) given the name “Wanli” circa 1625. ii) and a Chinese junk “Desaru” dated circa 1830.

Ships in this period did not have names. So the names are given by the people responsible for the recovery operations. “Wanli”, for instance, is the name of the last Ming emperor who reigned from 1573 to 1620. “Desaru” is named after the geographical area where the shipwreck site was found – Desaru, in Johore state

The “Wanli” wreck is significant because it may have been one of the first merchantships which carried export ware of kraak porcelain. This wreck, is arguably one of the most important finds of blue & white of this period known to exist. Kraakporcelain is seen in many Dutch private collections, in museums and in many Dutch still-life paintings of the early 17th century.

The Desaru Collection features the charming ceramics of the Qing Dynasty, circa 1830. Historic shards were excavated from the wreck of a chinese junk that was carrying goods popularly used in Southeast Asia at the time.

Each purchased item is accompanied with a serialized certificate of authenticity which outlines the historical origin of the porcelain.

PROVENANCE

The place that something originally came from; proof of authenticity.

Tradewind Treasures uses only genuine shards and is proud to source these from Nanhai Marine Archaeology Sdn Bhd, a company working closely with the Malaysian Department of Museums & Antiquities to map, research and excavate shipwreck sites in Malaysian waters.
Nanhai Marine Archaeology (NMA) is a Malaysian-based company that specialises in the search for historical shipwrecks and the history and development of Chinese and Southeast Asian ceramics. Its work involves underwater excavation the study of the ships` antique porcelain and pottery cargoes.

Large areas of the South China Sea are surveyed to find information about the past. Once shipwreck sites have been identified, they are meticulously excavated to gather as much information as possible. The site is mapped and any antiques, porcelain, pottery and artifacts are carefully recovered, curated and studied in collaboration with the Malaysian Department of Museums and Antiquities. The Museum retains a representative set of these items. Remaining items are sold in order to recover some of the investment into the excavation with the view to funding future investigations that would certainly uncover further untold stories hidden beneath the sea.

DATING THE CERAMICS

Shipwrecks that remain undisturbed on the seabed provide vital information about the past. All objects onboard are usually contemporary products dating to a few years before the ship`s sinking. Such dated assembly of shipwreck pottery, legally and properly excavated, gives confidence to historians and collectors of rare ceramics.

Nanhai Marine Archaeology dates its shipwreck artifacts using a combination of scientific dating methods, cross references to other shipwrecks, and research into the stylistic and technical development of the recovered ceramics. This information is vital for credible museum displays. Consequently, the company has been given "the best possible provenance" status by a number of international museums.

QUOTABLE QUOTES

“In working with Nanhai Marine Archaeology, we have complete confidence that all items in our collection are completely authentic. In addition, there is also the tantalising possibility that our collections may expand in the future to include other historic shipwrecks yet to be discovered! “

“Wanli” was a 17th century Portuguese carrack enroute to Malacca from China. There is evidence to indicate that it sunk from an act of war, possibly during a clash with a Dutch warship. The wreck site is located off the Terengganu coast,”

explains Ben Rongen.

THE FOUNDER

Ben Rongen’s passion for shipwreck export ware began when, as a documentary maker, he was introduced to Sten Sjostrand, the Swedish marine engineer who found ten shipwrecks in the South China Sea, including the “Wanli” and “Desaru.” This was in 2002. Since then, Rongen has followed Sten and his divers on numerous recovery trips to video-tape onboard recovery operations. He has learnt a lot from Sten Sjostrand who is known for his substantial and in-depth knowledge about historical export ware from China and Indo-China.

In September 2005, he was part of the event management team who organized “Treasures of the Nanhai” at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre. The event showcased the historical artifacts from the ten shipwrecks found by Sten Sjostrand. It was here that Tradewind Treasures was given it debut “test run” ……. and passed with flying colours! Currently Rongen and his team select the motifs and base their designs on bringing out the best of the particular shard motif. It is cut and crafted with 92.5 sterling silver. It is then engraved with a serial number. All items come accompanied with a Certificate of Authenticity.

DESIGNING ANTIQUE SHARDS

“In designing our pieces, we tend to let the shards “tell” us what they are going to be, rather than take the opposite route of cutting them to fit a pre-set mould. That is why each piece stands alone as a one-of-a-kind creation. “

THE PRODUCTION

Knowing how to cut the blue-and-white ceramic shards is key to the Tradewind Treasures success. And knowing how to cut the shards needs an understanding of the history, which in turns leads to an appreciation of the motifs used.

The Tradewind Treasures provenance is not just about where the item originated from. It goes beyond that, to evoke an era when Asian vessels plied the “Southern Seas” and the Western merchant ships started to trade in the region.

THE MOTIFS

Throughout the history of art in China, decorative motifs were applied not exclusively for their aesthetic value but more for their symbolic implications. The main religion at the time – Daoism – aimed at harmony of man with his universe. Yin and Yang played an important part here. Certain motifs had yin or yang qualities. During the late Ming period, the main interest for the Daoists seemed to be the quest for immortality. Favourites in the Daoist pantheon are the Eight Immortals. The wish for longevity is also represented by the following symbols: lingzi (sacred fungus); peach, pine, bamboo, willow, crane, tortoise, qilin, deer, fox, hare, coral and rocks.

The Chinese show a distinct preference for depicting nature in their works of art. Peony for spring. Lotus for Summer. Chrysanthemum for autumn. Prunus for winter. Fabulous animals like dragon, tortoise and quilin are substituted by deer, birds and insects.

THE PRODUCTS:

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