| Binh Thuan Shipwreck-an article written by Dr. Michael Flecker, a maritime archaelogist specialist in Asian vessels and cargoes. Some noteble excavations directed by Dr. Flecker include Java shipwreck( 13th century), Intan Wreck(10th century), Belitung Shipwreck (9th century) and Vung Tau Shipwreck. | |||||||||
 Three years ago, a large Chine junk was discovered about 40 nautical miles offshore of Binh Thuan province, in the South Vietnam by fisherman. Vietnam goverment granted the Binh Thuan People's Committee and Vietnam Salvage Corporation(Visal) permission to carry on the excavation project. |
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She was in magnificant state of preservation, protected from erosion and biological attack by sand. The ship was divided into 25 narrow compartments and almost entirely of the ceramics cargo belong to Zhangzhou porcelains. Zhangzhou ware, has been mistakenly treated as Swatow (Shantou) ware-which produced from Guangdong province in Southern China in early days. However, the recent kiln excavation at Zhougzhou region and Pinghe Kiln revealed the existing of Zhangzhou ware. |
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characteristic of kiln grit adhering to the base pf the most ZXhangzhou
pieces, and the heavy potting style are hardly attributes of fine
porcelains. However, the lively decoration had compensates for this
perceived shortfall.Every single piece found in the shipwreck is
unique which the free and spontaneous drawing style had created
difference in stroke,outline and shade of blue. |
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The vast majority of the medium-sized blue & white dishes are decoratd in the center with a pair of pheonixes and vegetation. the border comprises five floral medallions divided by a scaled diaper pattern. The dating of Binh Thuan shipwreck is a complicated issue due to lack of written archival material. However, the large dishes of versatile family have been found on Dutch ship,Witte Leeuw,which was lost off the island of St. Helena in 1613. Therefore, the shipwreck has been defined to Ming dynasty, Wanli period (AD1573-1620). Some of the artefacfs found from Binh Thuan shipwreck:- |
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09/11/2004
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