Vietnamese Ceramic Vase, Hoi An Horde
The vase and cobalt floral decoration
15th/16th Century.
15in (38cm) h.
Provenance: Butterfields, San Francisco October, 2000. 'The Hoi An Horde Collection

A ship carrying a large cargo of Vietnamese ceramics dated to the mid-to15th century sank in the South China Sea. The provenance of the pieces was known to be the kilns of the Red River Delta (such as Chu Dau) because excavations in the region had been ongoing since their discovery in 1983. The only pieces remaining at the kiln sites were pieces with faults. Intact examples of the wares produced were rare, since all were exported. When the wreck was found, there was excitement among collectors and archaeologists, for it promised the first cargo consisting solely of Vietnamese wares.

Fishermen discovered the wreck in the early 1990s. For several years the site was intensively plundered, resulting in pieces turning up on the market all over the world. The method employed by the looters was to drag a series of hooks across the site with nets behind them to dislodge and catch artifacts. Vietnamese authorities became aware of the wreck following the arrest at Da Nang International Airport of two dealers who had in their possession suitcases full of pottery from the site.
In 1996, Malaysian-Chinese businessman Ong Soo Hin teamed up with Oxford University archaeologist Mensun Bound to work with Vietnam's National History Museum to excavate the site, with York Archaeological Trust providing conservation and photographic services. The project took four years and cost an estimated US$14 million.[2] Over 250,000 intact ceramic artifacts were recovered.

Over three seasons the team excavated a third of a million pieces of pottery.
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