Ancient Chinese Porcelain from a Portuguese Shipwreck

Description

GuWei Museum’s The Wanli Shipwreck unveils the story of blue and white porcelain, an art form that originated in ancient China and later became the hallmark of the Ming Dynasty (1368–1644), dominating global trade during the Age of Exploration from the 15th to 17th centuries. 

The Wanli shipwreck was a Portuguese merchant vessel that sank around 1625, discovered off the east coast of Malaysia in 1998. Loaded with many Ming Chinese blue and white porcelains — some bore markings from the Jingdezhen kilns during Emperor Wanli’s reign (1572–1620) — the ship likely met its fate in a violent sea battle against the Dutch, evidenced by an explosion that damaged much of the cargo. The wreck is a rare snapshot of 17th-century maritime trade goods, shedding light on the global exchange networks of that time.

Please note: The exhibition’s end date has been extended to 12 April 2026.