The Vung Tau Cargo – auction catalogue – Christie’s Amsterdam 1992

Description

Original Christie’s Amsterdam auction catalogue of The Vung Tau Cargo, one of the most important finds of 17th-century Chinese export porcelain from a shipwreck. The richly illustrated catalogue was published for the two-day auction of the cargo on 7 and 8 April 1992 and documents 1,011 lots of Chinese porcelain.

Vung Tau Cargo

The wreck was discovered in 1989 off the southern coast of Vietnam and subsequently salvaged in cooperation with the Vietnam Salvage Corporation. It was an Asian merchant vessel that, around 1690, was en route from China towards Batavia, the then trading centre of the VOC.

The cargo consisted in large part of Chinese export porcelain from the early Kangxi period. Many forms and decorations were specifically aimed at the export market and show the influence of European examples in silver and glass.

The auction

Christie's Amsterdam auctioned the Vung Tau Cargo on 7 and 8 April 1992. The catalogue comprises 1,011 lots and is extensively illustrated with colour photographs of the porcelain offered. In addition to the lot descriptions, the catalogue contains background information on the shipwreck and the salvaged cargo.

The original auction catalogue is an important reference work for collectors and dealers in Chinese export porcelain and is still used in the identification and documentation of pieces from the Vung Tau Cargo.

Catalogue information

Christie’s Amsterdam, The Vung Tau Cargo – Chinese Export Porcelain. Auction held on 7 and 8 April 1992. English text, softcover, 132 pages, 1,011 lots, richly illustrated in colour.

What is special about this item is the original Christie’s receipt, which is pasted into the catalogue.

Dimensions & condition

Approx. 27 × 21 cm. Good used condition with minor signs of age and wear to the cover. The interior is clean and neat. The original Christie's receipt is pasted in. See the photos for a good impression of the condition.