#6174 • Qing Dynasty Vung Tau Shipwreck Jin Chan

Part of Royal Artifacts of Vietnam & Fine Jewelry (timed auction by GWS Auctions)

Starting at $1.00

Status: Sold

Est. $8,000-$10,000 Qing Dynasty Coralized Vung Tau Shipwreck Ceramic Jin Chan (Money Toad) - This piece displays a great use of powder blue and pastel pink underglazed colors, and represents wishes for good fortune. It is a symol of the Qing Dynasty wishing long life, happiness prosperity and wishes of moving forward. This stunning piece depicts the Jin Chan sitting on a haphazard pile of gold, and has become coralized from sitting underneath the sea. According to our seller, this piece was recovered from the Vung Tau shipwreck, which sank around 1690 off of the coast of Vietnam. The wreck was discovered in 1986 and soon local divers had pulled a large number of porcelain pieces from the vessel. Eventually these activities were stopped by the Vietnamese government, which arranged for commercial salvager Sverker Hallstrom to excavate the wreck. There were approx. 48,000 pieces recovered from the site, some of which went to antique dealers in Vietnam, Hong Kong, and Singapore before being halted by the Vietnamese government. Several pieces were chosen for Vietnamese museums before the remaining pieces were sold by Christies Amsterdam in 1992, where they realized a return of $7.3 million. The legend of Jin Chan dates back to the 10th century, when Liu Hai, a fabled Chinese alchemist learned the secret of immortality from the Jin Chan, and became an immortal. Some might say that the legend was proven to be true, as this piece survived the massive wreck while so many others were lost. This incredible piece truly belongs in a museum, or with the most astute collector. Measurements (approximate): 9.5"H x 14"W.