Maritime

Embroidered Phoenix in Floral Medallion

Tang dynasty, 7-8th centuries

L49cm, W20cm

Split-stitch, the most popular embroidery technique during the high-Tang period was adopted on this piece. From the damaged textile we can identify two standing phoenixes with drooping interlocking twigs between them, suggesting that the complete pattern was a pair of phoenixes holding interlocking twigs. The shape of the phoenix is quite similar to the bronze phoenix decoration excavated in Dulan.

Taquete with Tree in Pearl Roundel

Northern dynasties, 4-6th centuries

L30cm, W33cm

 

This is a weft-faced compound tabby with dark brown weft ends for ground and light brown threads for figuring, with partial alteration by green threads. There is one embellishing belt on top and bottom of the textile, both decorated with six-petal petite floral roundels, with tree patterns between the two belts.

Jin-silk with Dancers

Northern dynasties, 4-6th centuries

L: 13cm, W: 11cm

 

This is a 1:2 warp-faced compound tabby with dark brown warp ends for ground and light yellow, brown and light green threads for figure. Patterning is also achieved by alternating light green with brown in different areas. Both groups of weft threads are in dark brown. Repeat of figure is 1.4cm in the warp direction and from selvage to selvage in the weft direction.

The Royal Nanhai Shipwreck (1460)

The Royal Nanhai Shipwreck plate (http://www.maritimeasia.ws/exhib01/pages/p009.html)

This wreck was discovered at a depth of 46 meters, 40 nautical miles offshore from Kuantan, West Malaysia.The vessel appears to be 28m long and 7m wide, and is of a typical South China Sea design. This type of vessel, a hybrid that combines Chinese and Southeast Asian elements, has hull planks joined by wooden dowels, and transversal bulkheads. Its cargo includes more than 21,000 ceramics, most of which were Sawankhalok celadon, along with Singburi storage jars and some Chinese brown ware.

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