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The Ceramic Load of the Witte Leeuw

The Ceramic Load of the Witte Leeuw

Code: WitteL

SOLD

'The Ceramic Load of the Witte Leeuw' edited by van der Pijl-Ketel.  Rijksmuseum Amsterdam. First Edition 1982. Card covers, 301 pages illustrated throughout with black and white photographs and line drawings.
 

The Witte Leeuw (White Lion) was a Dutch East Indiaman which sunk near St Helena in 1619 on it's homeward journey from Bantam in Indonesia to Europe. the VOC records suggest that the sinking was as a result of a fight with Portuguese trading vessels. Much of it's cargo was made up of Kraak wares, and this book is an excellent reference for anyone with an interest in these wares, giving as it does a 'snapshot' of the types and styles of ceramics being imported into Europe at the start of the Seventeeth Century.
 

The book has chapters on the Dutch East India Company (the VOC) and the marine trade with the East, the Witte Leeuw herself, and an interesting short chapter on paintings featuring Chinese ceramics. The main bulk of the book is taken up with a comprehensive and well-illustrated record of the ceramic types found on board.

This book is in very good condition. There is a little wear to the edges of the card covers at the spine, and the stamp of a previous owner on the title page. Binding is sound.