Title
Storage jar
Year/Period
Tang dynasty, around 830s
Region
Guangdong Province , China (for all Guangdong Wares)
Material
Accession No.
2005.1-00038
Collection of
Credit Line
The Tang Shipwreck was acquired through the generous donation of the Estate of Khoo Teck Puat.
The Tang shipwreck contained many storage jars such as this made in Guangdong province, in southern China. Those with a wider opening were packed with ceramic bowls. Others were found full of star anise from China. Those with spouts may have contained liquids. Some jars bear inscriptions, perhaps merchant’s marks. After centuries under water, many became encrusted with coral. Some such as this example have been restored to their original state, but only through many hours of painstaking work by conservators. The Tang Shipwreck was a 9th century vessel that was en route from China back to the Middle East when it sank off the coast of Belitung Island in the Java Sea.
