Chinese Tek Sing Shipwreck Pottery Collection
19th century A.D. Comprising four glazed ceramic vessels: two shallow dishes and two footed bowls with everted rim and basal ring. 659 grams total, 9.1-16 cm wide (3 5/8 - 6 1/4 in.). Acquired 1980-2015. Ex Abelita family collection. The Tek Sing (True Star) wreck is one of the famous recovery stories of the 20th century. Sailing from the port of Xiamen (then known as Amoy) in February 1822 the vessel Tek Sing was bound for Jakarta, Indonesia laden with porcelain goods and 1600 Chinese emigrants. The captain decided to pass through the Gaspar Strait, between the Bangka-Belitung Islands, and ran aground on a reef. The vessel sank in about 100 feet of water. The next morning, February 7, an English East Indian vessel captained by James Pearl, passing through the same waters, encountered debris and some survivors and managed to rescue about 190 of the latter. [4]