Lot # 

Picture (click to enlarge)

 Lot title and description

Estimate (low-high)

901. Chinese greyware bowl, Sung Dynasty (ca. 1000-1100 AD). About 7½” in diameter and 3" tall, 1 lb. Greenish-gray in color with incised interior motif, about 20% of bottom unglazed, with shelly encrustation here and there, fully intact. With Philippines National Museum tag #0086824. Estimate: $70-$100

902. Chinese greyware bowl, Sung Dynasty (ca. 1000-1100 AD). About 7½” in diameter and 3" tall, 1 lb. As above but slightly larger and with the glaze crackled, not as much encrustation. With Philippines National Museum tag #0086823. Estimate: $70-$100

903. Chinese greyware bowl, Sung Dynasty (ca. 1000-1100 AD). About 7½” in diameter and 3" tall, 1 lb. Same as lot #901 but with even more encrustation. With Philippines National Museum tag #0086825. Estimate: $70-$100

904. Chinese greyware bowl, Sung Dynasty (ca. 1000-1100 AD). About 6½” in diameter and 2½” tall, 1 lb. Like the above but smaller and with no incised design, nicely intact and with encrustation. With Philippines National Museum tag #0090109. Estimate: $70-$100

905. Chinese greyware bowl, Sung Dynasty (ca. 1000-1100 AD). About 6½” in diameter and 2½” tall, 1 lb. As above but with incised (brushed) design inside and no encrustation, minor flaw in rim. With Philippines National Museum tag #0090110. Estimate: $70-$100

906. Chinese greyware bowl, Sung Dynasty (ca. 1000-1100 AD). About 6½” in diameter and 2½” tall, 1 lb. As above, minimal design but nicely lustrous glaze, no encrustation. With Philippines National Museum tag #0090111. Estimate: $70-$100

907. Chinese greyware bowl, Sung Dynasty (ca. 1000-1100 AD). About 6½” in diameter and 3" tall, 1 lb. As above but slightly larger, minor flaws in rim, no encrustation. With Philippines National Museum tag #0090112. Estimate: $70-$100

908. Chinese greyware bowl, Sung Dynasty (ca. 1000-1100 AD). About 6½” in diameter and 3" tall, 1 lb. As above, deeper design inside, also with design on outside, nice glaze, no encrustation. With Philippines National Museum tag #0090113. Estimate: $70-$100

909. Chinese greyware bowl, Sung Dynasty (ca. 1000-1100 AD). About 6½” in diameter and 3" tall, 1 lb. As above but with much less glaze, sand inclusions, minor flaws in rim. With Philippines National Museum tag #0090114. Estimate: $70-$100

910. Chinese greyware bowl, Sung Dynasty (ca. 1000-1100 AD). About 6½” in diameter and 3" tall, 1 lb. As above, with bright and shiny glaze, minor rim-flaws, no encrustation. With Philippines National Museum tag #0090115. Estimate: $70-$100

911. Chinese greyware bowl, Sung Dynasty (ca. 1000-1100 AD). About 6½” in diameter and 3" tall, 1 lb. As above but without the exterior design, no encrustation, nicely intact. With Philippines National Museum tag #0090116. Estimate: $70-$100

912. Chinese greyware bowl, Sung Dynasty (ca. 1000-1100 AD). About 6½” in diameter and 3" tall, 1 lb. As above, incised design on the exterior as well as inside, good glaze with sand inclusions, minor flaws in rim. With Philippines National Museum tag #0090117. Estimate: $70-$100

913. Chinese greyware bowl, Sung Dynasty (ca. 1000-1100 AD). About 6½” in diameter and 3" tall, 1 lb. As above, not as much glaze, minimal encrustation, perfectly intact. With Philippines National Museum tag #0090118. Estimate: $70-$100

914. Chinese greyware bowl, Sung Dynasty (ca. 1000-1100 AD). About 6½” in diameter and 3" tall, 1 lb. As above but interior design only, good glaze, perfectly intact, no encrustation. With Philippines National Museum tag #0090119. Estimate: $70-$100

915. Chinese greyware bowl, Sung Dynasty (ca. 1000-1100 AD). About 6½” in diameter and 3" tall, 1 lb. As above but no design, great encrustation including one large oyster shell on the bottom. With Philippines National Museum tag #0086826. Estimate: $70-$100

916. Chinese greyware bowl, Sung Dynasty (ca. 1000-1100 AD). About 6½” in diameter and 3" tall, 1 lb. As above but lighter color, with interior design, lots of minor flaws in rim, encrusted with many oyster shells (nice display). With Philippines National Museum tag #0086827. Estimate: $70-$100

917. Brown, lidded earthenware pot, probably circa 1100 AD. About 10" tall and 8½” in diameter, 3½ lb. This large pot is remarkably light for its size, its thin and fragile walls incredibly still intact, with lots of white encrustation over the brown composition (very nice contrast), some etched pattern on the removable lid but otherwise plain, also with curious coral spikes on the bottom that act as tiny legs, the place and time period of manufacture unknown but clearly early. With Philippines National Museum tag #0090070. Estimate: $700-$1,000

918. Encrusted Chinese stoneware jar, Sung Dynasty (ca. 1100 AD). About 7" tall and 7" in diameter at its widest, 3½ lb. A perfectly intact, medium-sized, flat-bottomed urn with rolled lip (3" opening) and four small loops on the shoulders, but most remarkable for its near-complete coating of fine encrustation all over against the tan surfaces, quite a nice display. With Philippines National Museum tag #0090069. Estimate: $500-$750

919. Light brown Chinese stoneware jarlet, Sung Dynasty (ca. 1100 AD). About 6" in diameter and 4" wide, 487 grams. A squat, globular jar with rolled-lip open top (2½” opening) and four small handles on shoulders, greenish-brown glaze with oyster encrustation on top half (lower part unglazed), one loose shell inside, perfectly intact and quite attractive overall. With Philippines National Museum tag #0086830. Estimate: $500-$750

920. Encrusted Chinese stoneware “kendi” (pitcher), Sung Dynasty (ca. 11th century AD). About 7" tall and 5" in diameter at its widest, 1½ lb. Basically a bulbous, flat-bottomed vase with narrow spout in shoulder, flared open top, orange glaze lavishly coated with wormy and shelly encrustation, a very cute piece, fully intact and quite appealing to the shipwreck enthusiast. With Philippines National Museum tag #0090065. Estimate: $500-$750

921. Encrusted Chinese stoneware “kendi” (pitcher), Sung Dynasty (ca. 11th century AD). About 7" tall and 5" in diameter at its widest, 1½ lb. As above but with slightly less encrustation. With Philippines National Museum tag #0090066. Estimate: $500-$750

922. Encrusted Chinese stoneware “kendi” (pitcher), Sung Dynasty (ca. 11th century AD). About 7" tall and 5" in diameter at its widest, 1½ lb. As above, not as orange but loaded with encrustation, one large oyster at top in particular. With Philippines National Museum tag #0090067. Estimate: $500-$750

923. Encrusted Chinese stoneware urn, Sung Dynasty (ca. 1100 AD). About 7" tall and 6" in diameter at its widest, 2 lb. Much like lot #918 above, this perfectly intact flat-bottomed jar has a rolled-lip 3" opening at top and four small loops on the shoulders and is completely covered with white encrustation (thick in places) against an orange background, making for a nice display. With Philippines National Museum tag #0090068. Estimate: $500-$750

924. Octagonal nine-piece tray set, celadon Chinese porcelain, Sung dynasty (1100s). Center piece about 5" in diameter with 3½” surrounding plates, about 2 lb overall. This is a matching set of nine shallow (about ½”) trays, with one central octagon surrounded by eight smaller five-sided pieces, all grayish white with no markings or design but nicely coated with encrustation in colors ranging from white to tan to pink, intact except for a chip here and there (from before salvage). With Philippines National Museum tag #0090073. Estimate: $500-$750

925. Octagonal nine-piece tray set, celadon Chinese porcelain, Sung dynasty (1100s). Center piece about 5" in diameter with 3½” surrounding plates, about 2 lb overall. As above but no chips in rims. With Philippines National Museum tag #0090074. Estimate: $500-$750

926. Octagonal nine-piece tray set, celadon Chinese porcelain, Sung dynasty (1100s). Center piece about 5" in diameter with 3½” surrounding plates, about 2 lb overall. As above, probably the most encrusted set in this offering. With Philippines National Museum tag #0090075. Estimate: $500-$750

927. Octagonal nine-piece tray set, celadon Chinese porcelain, Sung dynasty (1100s). Center piece about 5" in diameter with 3½” surrounding plates, about 2 lb overall. As above, some encrustation, one small chip. With Philippines National Museum tag #0090076. Estimate: $500-$750

928. Octagonal nine-piece tray set, celadon Chinese porcelain, Sung dynasty (1100s). Center piece about 5" in diameter with 3½” surrounding plates, about 2 lb overall. As above, not much encrustation, two chips in rim. With Philippines National Museum tag #0090077. Estimate: $500-$750

929. Octagonal nine-piece tray set, celadon Chinese porcelain, Sung dynasty (1100s). Center piece about 5" in diameter with 3½” surrounding plates, about 2 lb overall. As above, good encrustation, a few chips (one quite noticeable). With Philippines National Museum tag #0090078. Estimate: $500-$750

930. Dark brown Chinese stoneware pitcher, Ming Dynasty (1300s-1400s). About 9" tall and 7½” maximum diameter, 5 lb. A gorgeous piece, 100% intact, in a rich dark-brown glaze (except for the bottom 20%, which is unglazed), with three small handles and one spout around the shoulders, large opening (about 4" in diameter) with minor chip in the top, spots of tan encrustation here and there, a very old “little brown jug” that could still be used today. With Philippines National Museum tag #0090079. Estimate: $700-$1,000

931. Long-neck “blanc-de-chine” (Te-hua) Chinese porcelain vase, Ming Dynasty (1400s-1500s). About 9" tall and 5" at its widest, 2 lb. A lovely bulbous vase with long, flared neck and flat base, no pattern (just white under glaze), perfectly intact and with large oyster shell attached to and sticking out of the top and a film of white encrustation on the bottom. With Philippines National Museum tag #0090106. Estimate: $700-$1,000

932. Celadon (green) bowl encrusted with shells, Sawankhalot earthenware, 1400s-1500s. About 8" in diameter and 3-3/4" tall, 2 lb. The center of this deep bowl is a rich, solid green surrounded by line drawings (flowers), with a ribbed petal-like design on the outside. Most interesting is the fact that the bowl is encrusted with the remains of at least five large oysters and some coral. The green color is a bit degraded and crackled but the overall integrity of the piece is perfectly intact. With Philippines National Museum tag #0086828. Estimate: $250-$375

933. Large celadon (green) bowl encrusted with shells, Sawankhalot earthenware, 1400s-1500s. About 9½” in diameter and 4½” tall, 3½ lb. Larger than the last lot but with the green color almost totally gone due to sea-wear, the ribbed pattern on the exterior (as formed) still apparent, but also encrusted with multiple oyster shells and coral, maybe not a treasure to porcelain purists but surely a beautiful display for shipwreck enthusiasts. With Philippines National Museum tag #0090099. Estimate: $250-$375

934. Four-handled jarlet, Annamese blue-on-white porcelain, 1400s-1500s. About 3½” in diameter and 2" tall, 137 grams. This dainty and beautiful jarlet has an open hole in the middle of the top and four small loops around the perimeter, as well as a tiny pouring spout, which makes me believe it was intended as a hanging oil lamp, the somewhat floral pattern in blue a little sea-worn (under crackled glaze) but fully intact. With Philippines National Museum tag #0090101. Estimate: $250-$375

935. Lidded powder-box, Annamese blue-on-white porcelain, 1400s-1500s. About 2½” in diameter and 2" tall, 137 grams. A small and somewhat spherical box with flat top (typical “powder-box” design), floral pattern on top and paneled motif around the outside, the interior like new and a perfect match of lid to base, 100% intact and very cute. With Philippines National Museum tag #0090104. Estimate: $250-$375

936. Chinese jade pendant (seahorse head with human face). About 2" x 1" x ½”, 50.9 grams. Most people think of jade as green, but in its darkest form it is black, as is the case here, although this object also bears a light film of brown and white encrustation over most of its surface. The shape appears to be the head of a seahorse (with long, pointed snout) with human face and a hole for suspension at the top between the ears. No doubt it is rare, not just as a discovery-period Eastern artifact, but also for its shipwreck origin, the first item from this wreck I have ever offered for sale. With Robert Marx certificate. Estimate: $250-$375

937. Bronze mariner’s astrolabe in coral matrix (as found), probably Spanish, ca. 1580. About 10" x 8" x 5", 8 pounds. One of the highlights of this auction, this piece is one of very few (about 70) known extant astrolabes, which were early navigational devices for determining latitude based on astronomical observation, specifically in replacement of the more cumbersome quadrant (which was impossible to use accurately on a rocking ship). The overall shape of it is round with open quarters, with a suspension ring at top and a rotating alidade in the center for measurement, but most salvaged specimens from shipwrecks like this one (which, incidentally, is where most of the known specimens originated) lack the ring and alidade. (In fact, the dating and nationality of this piece come from its near-exact likeness to one found on one of the wrecks of the Spanish Armada of 1588.) The surfaces of this piece are very worn and corroded (no markings visible), even a bit rusty and patinated, but what is unique about this piece is the fact that it is beautifully lodged in a large head of coral (white with bits of green and pink). Unfortunately, the identity of the shipwreck that yielded this important piece is not known, but the pedigree and accompanying documentation should be enough to satisfy the most ardent researcher. With Stimson book The Mariner’s Astrolabe (1988) and Winter, 1994, issue of Treasure Quest magazine with picture of this astrolabe and its finders on the cover. Estimate: $35,000-$50,000

938. Group of four Chinese blue-on-white porcelain cups. Each about 2¼” tall and 1½” in diameter, 130 grams total. These represent the only artifacts I have been able to offer from the same wreck that yielded the many gold nuggets (lots #52-74 in this sale), and if they were intact I would certainly offer them one-by-one, but alas they are not. Each one has significant chips and voids in the rim. At least they are not broken into shards! The same blue-on-white floral motif is on each cup, with one flower inside, the glaze mostly intact, with coral encrustation on one of the cups. With Arqueonautas certificate #IDM-002/01/28+65+76+128. Estimate: $375-$550

939. Lot of two crosses and three Christ figures in brass. From 1" to 2½” each, 12.1 grams total. A major part of Portuguese and Spanish exploration in the 1500s was proselytizing, the conversion of native peoples to Christianity. Naturally they needed props, and these inexpensive brass trinkets fit the bill. The design usually consisted of a cross with a Christ figure attached, but many times the two pieces got separated, which is the case here. Each one is corroded and broken in some way (missing an arm, etc.) but recognizable and a tangible piece of Christian history. With Arqueonautas certificate #AGO-050/98/962. Estimate: $225-$350

940. Lot of three crucifixes and a ring in brass. Crucifixes about 1" to 1½”, ring about ½” in diameter, 8.6 grams total. Unlike the above, the crucifixes in this lot were all-in-ones, with the Christ figure and cross cast together, but these are also broken and corroded. The ring in this lot, while thin and corroded, is intact and bears a simple chevron pattern on the outside. With Arqueonautas certificate #AGO-050/98/874. Estimate: $175-$250

941. Lot of one religious character, one crucifix and one buckle, all in brass. About 3/4" to 1½” each, 6.5 grams total. The crucifix in this lot is as above, but the religious character is more like a statuette of some saint or angel, while the buckle (small, rectangular) of course has no religious connection. Each is corroded and not quite intact but recognizable. With Arqueonautas certificate #AGO-050/98/944. Estimate: $120-$160

942. Lot of one crucifix and one Christ figure in brass. About 1" to 2" each, 5.0 grams total. This lot contains one of each type of crucifix, one with the Christ figure as part of the overall design and the other a separate figure that was attached to a cross. Both are corroded but recognizable. With Arqueonautas certificate #AGO-050/98/858. Estimate: $90-$120

943. Lot of one cross and one ring in brass. The cross about 2" x 1½”, the ring about 3/4" in diameter, 3.9 grams total. Last of the lots of religious items from this wreck, the cross in this lot is almost full, and the ring is complete except for a breach opposite the thickest part (most likely the top), both corroded but very recognizable. With Arqueonautas certificate #AGO-050/98/931. Estimate: $75-$100

944. Silver buckle. About 1¼” x 1-1/8", 3.7 grams. This piece is perfectly intact and uncorroded, made in an oval figure-eight shape, no hasp or hinge (just the buckle part), very well preserved. With Arqueonautas certificate #AGO-051/99/15042. Estimate: $120-$160

945. Cuprous gun lock. About 4½” x 1¼” x 1", 82.1 grams. This open rectangular item with fourteen holes (as made) was fitted onto the underside of a gun to hold the lock mechanism (probably a wheel-lock). This specimen appears to be intact although the metal is thin and split in two places at the ends. With Arqueonautas certificate #AGO-051/98/624. Estimate: $100-$150

946. Lot of six lead musket-balls. Each about 5/8" in diameter, 148 grams total. Inexpensive artifacts but always popular, these six musket-balls are in typically intact condition with traces of encrustation, one certificate for the whole lot. With original Fisher certificate. Estimate: $40-$60

947. Iron spike, professionally conserved, with wooden display stand. About 7½” long with 1" head, 150 grams. A rather unassuming (typical) spike with square head and shank whose main value comes from its certified origin and professional conservation, which left the piece black and grainy in texture, also nicely cradled in a cherry-wood stand for attractive display. With Fisher certificate #00M-50245. Estimate: $100-$150

948. Brass ring from a stocked weapon. About 1" in diameter and ¼” tall, 8.9 grams. The archeologists who conserved this piece call it a “ring holding barrel,” but I cannot figure out what part of the gun that is! All I can say is that it is a thick ring with three protrusions that had some function on a 1600s rifle. I will leave it up to the arms experts to figure out the rest! With Arqueonautas certificate #BOA-006/96/195. Estimate: $75-$100

949. Cuprous trigger guard with hallmark. Roughly 3½” x 1½” x 1", 51.4 grams. Unlike the last lot, this piece is readily identifiable as the C-shaped guard that covers the trigger, and it appears to be intact, with a touchmark (letter M in circle?) on the bottom and curiously of two distinctly different colors (brassy toward the front, the rest more of a bronze color), so possibly partially plated. With Arqueonautas certificate #BOA-006/99/40686. Estimate: $75-$100

950. Group of three earthenware olive jar necks. Each about 4" in diameter with 2" opening, 2" tall, 819 grams total. Perhaps the most recognizable part of the olive jars whose shards litter nearly every Spanish wreck is the jar’s neck, the round, thick opening at the top. Though shards themselves are a dime a dozen, the necks have always attracted a premium because they make a nice display. These, the only ones I have ever seen from this particular wreck, are in great shape, orange to tan in color, no encrustation. With Arqueonautas certificate #AGO-063/99/15608. Estimate: $60-$90

951. Large blue-on-white Chinese porcelain bowl with flat, scalloped rim, phoenix bird design, Late Ming Dynasty (1600s). About 14" in diameter and 3" tall, 6 lb. Gorgeously vivid blue color, depicting a tall, feathered bird among plants in the center surrounded by more foliage around the bowl, scrollwork pattern around the flat rim, much simpler pattern on exterior, sand-encrusted bottom, 100% intact and impressively large, very similar to the K’ang Hsi porcelains that have been so popular from Spanish wrecks. With Philippines National Museum tag #0090091. Estimate: $1,500-$2,250

952. Large blue-on-white Chinese porcelain bowl with flat, scalloped rim, “kylins”(?) design, Late Ming Dynasty (1600s). About 14" in diameter and 3" tall, 6 lb. As above but design like lot #956, same perfect condition. With Philippines National Museum tag #0090092. Estimate: $1,500-$2,250

953. Large blue-on-white Chinese porcelain bowl with flat, scalloped rim, herons design, Late Ming Dynasty (1600s). About 14" in diameter and 3" tall, 6 lb. As above but different interior motif, with four birds flying and among the plants in center, plus four more birds in foliage around the bowl, simple exterior design and sand-encrusted bottom, perfectly intact and beautiful. With Philippines National Museum tag #0090090. Estimate: $1,500-$2,250

954. Large blue-on-white Chinese porcelain bowl with flat, scalloped rim, herons design, Late Ming Dynasty (1600s). About 14" in diameter and 3" tall, 6 lb. As above but with the design a bit waterworn and not as vivid, still perfectly intact and impressive. With Philippines National Museum tag #0086486. Estimate: $1,500-$2,250

955. Large blue-on-white Chinese porcelain bowl with flat, scalloped rim, herons design, Late Ming Dynasty (1600s). About 14" in diameter and 3" tall, 6 lb. As above, with better blues but a grayer white for background, perfectly intact and impressive. With Philippines National Museum tag #0090089. Estimate: $1,500-$2,250