Miniature Chinese vase, from the Hatcher shipwreck, C. 1645

7cm high

Recovered from the Hatcher Junk in the South China Sea, by Michael Hatcher in the early 1980's. Sold through a massive series of sales in Amsterdam and London, 1985, with 1,958 miniature vases being recorded. Dating comes from a dated inscription for Spring, 1643, and the pieces from the wreck take their importance from this definite date, helping date other un-provenanced pieces.