Shipwreck Porcelain Annamese Style Lidded Trinket Box from Hoi An Hoard, 15th century Vietnam

From a 15th century ship that sank off the coast of Vietnam, the recovery effort of the Hoi An hoard was one of the greatest underwater archaeological discoveries of all time. This lidded trinket bowl is from the Hoi An Hoard, and bears the original VISAL stickers as well as the Butterfield’s auction sticker. It has beautifully executed Annamese central and side motifs in cobalt glaze.
One notable London dealer described ceramics from the Hoi An Hoard as "the most precious and complete representation of Vietnamese artisanship in glazed ceramics" and far more rare than their Chinese counterparts from Tek Sing.
The shipwreck was located in the middle of a typhoon zone known as the Dragon Sea. Recovering artifacts from the hoard required a team of divers to live in special pressurised chambers for weeks; the shipwreck was located at a depth of 70 metres which meant that this was the only way to avoid instant depressurisation and death.
This operation involved 120 men, including archaeologists, photographers, artists and technical crew.
After desalination, the artifacts were sorted and tagged. They were then transferred to a warehouse outside Da Nang, where a workforce of over sixty continued cleaning, photographing, drawing and recording, preparing the porcelain for its final destination -- the outside world.
At 65,000 US dollars a day, the final cost of this entire expedition was four million USD. That said, the historical value of this hoard was immeasurable; museums around the world have pieces in their collections, with the lion’s share being in the National History Museum of Han Oi.
Very good antique condition for shipwreck porcelain with fade to glaze and crazing, as well as wear to rim. Wear commensurate with age and conditions of shipwreck porcelain. A tiny bit of calcification and coral growth to the base which speaks to the long centuries spent underwater.

Price marked at AUD$550.

4.5 cm dia. by 4 cm height