Nanao Number 1 shipwreck

The Nan Ao Number 1 wreck is located in the sea off Shantou in Guangdong province. It was salvaged by the Guangdong Province's institute of cultural relics and archaeology in 2010 A.D. The wreck consisted of mainly Zhangzhou blue and white wares and a small number Jingdezhen blue and white wares. The wreck is widely believed to be from Ming Wanli period. The dating was suggested by Chinese experts who basically based their dating after examing the Jingdezhen blue and white wares which were recovered together with the Zhangzou wares. Some points raised to support a Wanli dating included observations such as that the outer base of some of the blue and white showed chattered marks and that Hui qing were used. (Hui Qing (回青）, an imported cobalt shows a purpiish tone when used with local cobalt for blue and white decoration. Some experts suggested that Hui qing was monopolised by the imperial kiln during the Jiajing period and were only used on some folk kiln blue and white after the late Wanli period). Personally I am of the view that such arguments are questionable and warrant further deliberation. On the contrary, such features could also be found in Jiajing pieces and would bring up examples to support my arguments.

In the Nan Ao wreck, the Zhangzhou blue and white wares were decorated using calligraphic strokes. From what I gathered, there were none of those typical Wanli/Tianqi kraak style type decorated using the outline and wash method. Such blue and whites were found in the San Diego wreck dated 1600 A.D and the Binh Thuan shipwreck dated early 17th century.

Mrs Sumarah Adhyatman in her book "Zhangzhou (Swatow Ceramics)" classified those blue and white executed using calligraphic strokes as Conservative type as opposed to those kraak style type using the outline and wash method which she termed persistent type. She is of the view that the conservative type were introduced earlier that the persistent type. But when it was first introduced was hard to determine due to lack of archaeological evidence. Conservative types were recovered from the San Isidro wreck in Philippines and an early 16th century dating was suggested. This would place it in the Jiajing period. Unfortunately, I was unable to find information explaining the rationale for the dating.

Based on Zhangzhou wares found in some of the above shipwrecks such as San Diego and Binh Thuan, it is obivious that the persistent type (ie those using outline and wash method) was in demand by overseas buyers during Wanli and later period. There were very few found using the calligraphic strokes. If that is the case, why was none of the outline and wash type found in the Nan Ao wreck if it is dated to Wanli period. It would be indeed puzzling why the traders opted for the calligraphic Zhangzhou wares which were not in high demand then.

Similar types of Jingdezhen blue and white wares found in the Nan Ao wreck were also recovered from the San Sebastian wreck which dated to Jiajing period. This wreck, situated near the sea in Fort San Sebastian in Moçambique, was discovered in 2001 by the team from Arqueonautas, a Portuguese salvage company. Subsequent research carried out by its team revealed that this wreck is most likely the remains of the Portuguese ship nao Espadarte. It went to

India

in 1554 and while on its return journey to

Portugal, it broke its mast at the Cape of Good Hope and was forced to go back to Mozambique where it sank.

　Many of the blue and white wares from the San Sebastian were of very high quality and showed purplish blue tone which indicate that some Hui Qing were used. Hence, the earlier suggestion by some Chinese experts that folk kilns were prohibited to use Hu qing during the Jiajing period may not be correct. Or at least, avenues were available to the folk kilns owners to gain access to Hui Qing cobalt.


Cups with birds on tree branch (left from Nan Ao and right from San Sebastian


Stylistically similar dragon bowl (left from Nan Ao and right from San Sebastian）


The Nan Ao phoenix plate has the same dish shape and similar band of motif on the rim as those found in San Sebastian wreck

In fact, the Nan Ao wreck has a bowl with "Da Ming Jiajing Nianzhi (大明嘉靖年制）" mark. The bowl is typical of that found during Jiajing period and should be a mark and period piece. Another bowl with the "fugui Jiaqi （福贵佳器）" mark is also typical of Jiajing period.


Bowl with Da Ming Jiajing Nianzhi mark	Bowl with Fugui Jiaqi mark


Some other Jingdezhen blue and white from Nan Ao wreck. Stylistically a Jiajing dating for them is also not untenable

Some may feel that the Jingdezhen pieces could be personal belongings of some crew members as the number were few. Hence, the possibility that they were purchased earlier could not be ruled out. However, if we look at the below photo of the relatively large number of cups which were found together, such argument may not be tenable. It is unlikely that any crew member would carry along so many pieces for personal use.

Based on the above, I am of the view that the Zhangzhou wares found in the Nan Ao wreck is an important find and is an important source of reference of pre Wanli Zhangzhou wares. For those interested in folk kiln Jingdezhen blue and white, it would be interesting to note that the below Jingdezhen bowls which usually dated to Wanli/Tianqi period were found in the Nan Ao wreck.


This particular motif of pine tree is usually dated to Wanli/Tianqi period	The lower left motif of scholar with deer is most commonly found during the Wanli/Tianqi period. However, most do not have the cross-hatched band near the mouth rim. The presence of the band is therefore a possible indication of Jiajing period.