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Chinese Earthenware Vessel — Maritime Archaeology Museum

Chinese Earthenware Vessel

Maritime Archaeology Museum Trade and Commerce Colonical
Period
Colonical
Date
2025-07-22
Materials
porcelain
Dimensions
H-17cm, THK-35cm
Site
Godawaya Shipwreck
Inventory
MAMG/2009/C/19

Full Description

This porcelain vessel is a 17th-century product. Vessels similar to this one were imported into the country through European trade in the Indian Ocean. This object belongs to the porcelain collection of the Colombo National Museum. Its provenance is unknown.
Historical Context This porcelain vessel, dating to the 17th century, reflects a significant period in global maritime trade, during which Chinese porcelain became one of the most prized commodities circulated across the Indian Ocean. Its presence in Sri Lanka, and specifically in a museum collection today, speaks to the island’s deep integration into the early modern global trade network, especially through European colonial powers.