Zhangzhou blue and white in San Isidro Wreck

This wreck was accidentally discovered in 1994 at a site approximately 9 km from the Barangay San Isidro.   The ceramic cargo consisted of mainly Fujian Zhangzhou blue and white ware, consisting of dishes, saucers, bowls, jars and a cover box.  There were also stoneware jars of Chinese and Thai origin.  Some isolated items included a Vietnamese box and two Thai jarlets with iron-black decoration.  According to a researcher from the National Museum, preliminary analysis of the vessel structure suggested it was of local build and likely used for transporting cargo from bigger trading vessels such as Chinese junk.

Dating of the wreck

The two Thai Sawankhalok jarlets with iron-black decoration set the terminus post quem dating of around +/-1550.  This conclusion is drawn based on the findings of two wrecks, the Xuande and Singtai, both in the sea off the east coast of  West Malaysia.  The cargoes consisted of some quantity of such Thai iron-black painted ware, mainly cover boxes.  Around 170 Chinese blue and white porcelains were recovered from the Xuande wreck.  Stylistically they can be dated to the Jiajing reign (1522 - 1567 A.D).  Two bronze cannons of Portuguese  style which first appeared in Portugal in the 1520s further substantiated the dating. 

Thai Sawankhalok jarlet recovered from San Isidro wreck	Thai Sawankhalok cover boxes from Xuande wreck

The cargo from two other wrecks,  Nanao and the San Diego, are useful to derive the time frame, setting the Terminus Ante quem of the San Isidro wreck. The San Diego wreck dating to 1600 A.D carried mainly Zhangzhou kraak style decoration using the outline and wash painting technique. Only a small number of pieces using the calligraphic style painting that was exclusively found in San Isidro wreck was still being produced.  It is an indication of a clear shift in the market preference.  A further confirmation could be ascertain from the Binh Thuan wreck dating to around 1620 A.D. The outline and wash type predominated, with very few calligraphic type found. Hence, we can reasonably deduced that the Zhangzhou ware from the San Isidro wreck must have been produced earlier.  Similar to the San Isdro wreck, the Nan Ao wreck carried Zhangzhou wares painted using the calligraphic stroke technique. Based on analysis of the Jingdezhen blue and white, I have suggested a time frame 1560/80s for the Nan Ao wreck. However, Shanghai Museum has done TL testing on two Jingdezhen samples from the Nanao 1 wreck.  The results showed that the wreck could be dated to at least 3rd to 5th year of Ming Longqing period.   For more information on the Nan Ao wreck, please read this article.

In terms of the composition and range of decorations, those from the Nan Ao wreck are more varied.  For example, that with sparsely layout floral sprays on the inner wall, very few were found on the San Isidro wreck. It also appears to be quite experimental, with just two floral sprays.  In the Nan Ao wreck, there could be up to four evenly spaced out. The use of chrysanthemum flower as a decorative element is also not seen in the Zhangzhou ware from the San Isidro wreck.  It is also noted that the quality of the drawing of those from the Nan Ao wreck is comparatively more shabbily executed.

San Isidro example with 2 floral sprays on inner wall

An example with chrysanthemum flowers from the Nan Ao wreck. The inner wall is also sparsely decorated with 4 evenly spaced chrysanthemum flower

Example with central human motif  surrounded by 4 evenly spaced abstract floral sprays on the inner wall

Such types from the Nan Ao wreck are widely found in the collections of Philippines collectors.  Hence, there may be a likelihood that such variations in the decoration were introduced later.  So far, the earliest dated example of chrysanthemum flower on Zhangzhou ware was found in the San Juanillo wreck with a dating of 1578 (6th year of Wanli reign).

Example with chrysanthemum from San Juanillo wreck

However, recently I came across information on the Ko Kradat wreck near Southeastern Thailand.  Based on the additional information, I have re-examined the basis for the dating Early Zhangzhou wares.  It is my believe that there are good grounds to date the wreck more speciifically to late Jiajing period.  Please read this article.

Source of Inspiration of Zhangzhou Repertoire of decorative elements

Many of the decorations found on early Zhangzhou ware can be traced to those found on Jingdezhen Chenghua/Jiajing blue and white.  Although by Hongzhi period, the outline and wash method has predominantly replaced the calligraphic painting style of painting, the latter could still be found on some of the products of that period.  Instead of adopting the style that was popularly used by the Jingdezhen potters, their counterparts in Zhangzhou chose to use the calligraphic style which has the advantage of quicker execution and hence shorter production time.  There may be two primary considerations, to compete based on product differentiation and cheaper pricing to satisfy a lower end market.  Below are comparison of some of the Jingdezhen examples which may have served as the blueprints for the Zhangzhou potters.

Left lotus drawing from a Hongzhi/Zhengde bowl and right lotus from a dish from San Isidro wreck.  Both also using the calligraphic style of execution
Hongzhi infant bowl and that from the San Isidro wreck. Both executed in the calligraphic style.
Left Hongzhi abstract floral decoration and that from San Isidro wreck.  Also note the floral sprays on the inner wall is an element that first appeared during the Ming interregnum period.  It was seldom used by the Jingdezhen potters during the Jiajing period.

The composition of the decoration, with central interior decoration and further supplementary bands of decorative elements is popular on Jingdezhen Jiajing period plates. 

Left Jingdezhen plate and right San Isidro plate with motif organised within concentric bands.

Conclusion 

The San Isidro wreck is an important find for understanding and studying the history of the production of Zhangzhou ware.  The cargo is a time capsule that preserved a precious body of material, reflecting the types of Zhangzhou blue and white that were produced at a particular period of time.  They are precious references of probably the earliest phase of Zhangzhou production.  It is not untenable to date it to as early as late Jiajing period.

Written by: NK Koh (28 Mar 2020), update: 10 Jun 2022