A BLUE AND WHITE GINGER JAR AND COVER, TRANSITIONAL PERIOD, CHINA, C. 1643-1645Of ovoid form, finely painted in shades of cobalt blue with shaped panels enclosing floral sprays and butterflies against an ice-crack ground with scrolling leafy lotus sprays, below a band of pendent drops of alternating size, the cylindrical cover with a broad band of precious objects to the sides and leafy lotus sprays to the flat top, all against ice-crack grounds and divided by line borders.Provenance: Michael Hatcher, recovered from the ‘Hatcher wreck’ in 1983. Christie’s Amsterdam, 14 March 1984. Felix Tikotin, acquired from the above and thence by descent. The base with an old label, ‘The Hatcher Collection. Christie’s Amsterdam. 14-03-1984’. Michael Hatcher (b. 1940) is a British explorer and marine salvor who specialized in salvage work in the South China Sea. In 1981 he was involved in investigating the wreck of the Dutch submarine K XVII. He is especially known for his recovery of large quantities of Chinese porcelain from the VOC Geldermalsen (known as the ‘Nanking cargo’) which was sold at auction by Christie's in Amsterdam in 1986. Previously, he had discovered another in the South China Sea, which became known as the ‘Hatcher wreck’. A part of the cargo salvaged in this wreck was sold at Christie’s Amsterdam in March 1984, including the present lot.Condition: Excellent condition with minor wear and firing irregularities, including kiln grit to the base, the mouth rim with a small smoothened area, probably inherent to manufacture. The exterior with surface alteration consistent with objects from maritime salvage.Weight: 2,896 gDimensions: Height 30 cmThe present ginger jar was recovered among some 25,000 vessels found on the wreck of an unidentified Asian in the South China Sea. This is known as the 'Hatcher wreck' after Captain Michael Hatcher who discovered her in 1983. There is no written record testifying to the exact year of her sinking but the covers of two oviform jars inscribed in underglaze blue with a cyclical date corresponding to 1643 make fairly precise dating of the wreck possible. The cargo primarily consisted of two types of blue-and-white porcelain made at Jingdezhen at the end of the Ming dynasty – late variations of 'kraak' ware and examples of a 'transitional' style characterized by landscape motifs and naturalistic plants and birds. The may have been on its way to Indonesia, carrying also spices, silk and othermodities for sale to the Dutch whose East Indiapany had offices in Batavia (modern Jakarta). Chinese junks sailing to Batavia or Bantam varied in size from 200 to 800 tons. The journey out was made over three weeks during December and January and the return trip took place in June and July.Auction resultparison:Type: RelatedAuction: Christie’s London, 12 November 2004, lot 216Price: GBP 3,824 or approx.EUR 7,000 converted and