Vase from the Hoi An shipwreck

Lively birds flit across the body of this pear-shaped vase. The cobalt blue of the underpainting remains dark, even though the clear glaze of the surface has worn away after centuries under the sea. There was remarkable variation in the condition of the ceramics recovered from the Hội An shipwreck: some appear like they were made yesterday, while others are marked by marine encrustation, staining, and faded glazes. Variation also is apparent in the skills of the painters. Some of the underpainting appears hurried—understandable considering the mass production of these ceramics. But other pieces are delicately painted with greater care and presumably meant for a different market.