Unidentified wrecks off the Philippines (“Ying Lung collection” of Chinese porcelains)

This auction features the “Ying Lung Collection” of Chinese porcelains from shipwrecks off the Philippines. The recoveries were all from unidentified shipwrecks (which is typical for Chinese porcelain wrecks, of which there are many in Philippine waters) that were excavated without any government supervision. All we know are the general areas where the recoveries were made, and an approximate time period (as early as the 11th century and as late as the 17th century) based on the salvaged material itself. The recovery areas were off three small islands:  Balabac Island (south of Palawan Island in the southwest part of the Philippines, just north of Borneo); Coron Island (north of Palawan Island); and Luuk Island (in the Sulu archipelago in the southernmost part of the Philippines).

The “Ying Lung collection” (Ying Lung being a mythical dragon who guards the treasures of the oceans) was carefully assembled by an anonymous salvage consultant for the Philippine National Museum between 1996 and 2003. The consignment in this sale is the first of what we hope to be several large offerings of some of the best shipwreck porcelains available.