Linda Rosenfeld Pomper
Early Chinese Porcelain Found in Panama

Ceramics in America 2012

Full Article
Contents
  • Figure 1
    Figure 1

    Map detail from “A New & Exact MAP of the Coast, Countries / and Islands within y.e LIMITS of y.e / SOUTH SEA COMPANY, / from y.e River Aranoca to Terra del Fuego, and from thence / through y.e South Sea to y.e North Part of California &c. / with a View of the General and Coasting TRADE-WINDS. / And particular Draughts of the most important Bays, Ports &c. / According to y.e Newest Observations, By Herman Moll Geographer,” ca. 1740 (originally published in 1711), London, England. (Courtesy, Colonial Williamsburg Foundation.) 

  • Figure 2
    Figure 2

    Dish, China, Wanli period, 1573–1620. Hard-paste porcelain. D. 8 5/16". (Courtesy, Thomas Lurie.)

  • Figure 3
    Figure 3

    Bowl fragment, China, late sixteenth century. Hard-paste porcelain. Excavated by Felipe Gaitan-Ammann at the house of the Genoese slave traders, Panama. (All archaeological fragments courtesy, Mirta Linero Baroni, Jefe de Arqueología, Patronato Panamá Viejo.)

  • Figure 4
    Figure 4

    Bowl, China, sixteenth century. Hard-paste porcelain with underglaze blue and red and green overglaze enamels. D. 3 5/8". (Courtesy, Museum Het Princessehof, Leeuwarden.)

  • Figure 5
    Figure 5

    Dish fragment, China, ca. 1565. Hard-paste porcelain with underglaze blue decoration. Excavated by Felipe Gaitan-Ammann at the house of the Genoese slave traders, Panama.

  • Figure 6
    Figure 6

    Dish, China, ca. 1550. Hard-paste porcelain with underglaze blue decoration. D. 12". (Courtesy, Frides Lameris Art and Antiques, Amsterdam, Netherlands.)

  • Figure 7
    Figure 7

    Bowl, China, ca. 1585; mounts, London, 1575–1585. Hard-paste porcelain with English silver-gilt mounts. H. 8 1/2", D. including handles 18 1/4". (Courtesy, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Rogers Fund, 1944.)

  • Figure 8
    Figure 8

    Bowl fragment, China, 1573–1620. Hard-paste porcelain with underglaze blue decoration. Excavated at the convent of the Monastery of the Concepción, Panama.

  • Figure 9
    Figure 9

    Bowl, China, ca. 1585; mounts, London, 1575–1585. Hard-paste porcelain with English silver-gilt mounts. H. 6 1/4", D. including handles 13". (Courtesy, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Rogers Fund, 1944.)

  • Figure 10
    Figure 10

    Bowl fragments, China, 1573–1620. Hard-paste porcelain with underglaze blue decoration. Excavated at the convent of the Monastery of the Concepción, Panama.

  • Figure 11
    Figure 11

    Dish fragment, China, 1573–1620. Hard-paste porcelain with underglaze blue decoration. Excavated at the convent of the Monastery of the Concepción, Panama.

  • Figure 12
    Figure 12

    Dish fragment, China, 1573–1620. Hard-paste porcelain with underglaze blue decoration. Excavated at the convent of the Monastery of the Concepción, Panama.

  • Figure 13
    Figure 13

    Dish, China, 1573–1620. Hard-paste porcelain with underglaze blue decoration. D. 14". (Courtesy, Collection of Thomas Lurie.)

  • Figure 14
    Figure 14

    Dish fragment, China, 1573–1620. Hard-paste porcelain with underglaze blue decoration. Excavated by Felipe Gaitan-Ammann at the house of the Genoese slave traders, Panama.

  • Figure 15
    Figure 15

    Dish, China, ca. 1625. Hard-paste porcelain with underglaze blue decoration. D. 8 3/8". This dish was recovered from the 1625 wreck of the Wanli, a Portuguese ship laden with Chinese ceramics that sank en route from Macao to the Straits of Melaka. (Courtesy, Sten Sjostrand and Nanhai Marine Archaeology.)

  • Figure 16
    Figure 16

    Dish fragment (front and back), China, 1573–1620. Hard-paste porcelain with underglaze blue decoration. Excavated at the convent of the Monastery of the Concepción, Panama.