Many Chinese people can immediately think of one name when you mention the problem of smugglers taking treasured antique Jingdezhen porcelain out of their country. That's because he led one of the greatest heists ever known.
Let's call him Michael Hatcher (pseudonym), who tarnished his name by allegedly destroying and stealing tons of ancient Jingdezhen porcelain.
He is the one who salvaged the sunken ship Tek Sing, dubbed the Titanic of the Orient, in the South China Sea in 1999.
The perilous sea is a veritable treasure chest. In ancient times, it was packed with ships carrying beautiful porcelain to the west where demand was skyrocketing. But many ships ended up on the bottom of the sea, including the Tek Sing, which sank on January 14, 1822.
Going down with Tek Sing were almost a million beautiful porcelain products: vases, teapots, and powder boxes just to name a few. They were all made in the top four kilns in China, each a fine example of China's accomplishments in porcelain-making.
Over a hundred years later, Hatcher discovered the place where the Tek Sing sank. Even he, an experiences salvager, was shocked by the sheer number of porcelain pieces. It is said that all of the pieces piled on top of each other made a small mountain in the sea!
Even though most of the pieces were in good condition, many claim that Hatcher ordered his men to smash all of the pieces. He wanted every piece to sell for the highest price possible, and he thought the best way to do this was to get rid of the unimpressive items. He kept the best pieces on a ship away at sea for a year, then claimed them as his own under the UN Convention on the Law of the sea.
It's estimated that he made almost 40 million dollars from the "stolen" porcelain! This angered many people.
But some people have a little payback, because after it was sold, the porcelain increased in value by as much as 15 times!
Let's call him Michael Hatcher (pseudonym), who tarnished his name by allegedly destroying and stealing tons of ancient Jingdezhen porcelain.
He is the one who salvaged the sunken ship Tek Sing, dubbed the Titanic of the Orient, in the South China Sea in 1999.
The perilous sea is a veritable treasure chest. In ancient times, it was packed with ships carrying beautiful porcelain to the west where demand was skyrocketing. But many ships ended up on the bottom of the sea, including the Tek Sing, which sank on January 14, 1822.
Going down with Tek Sing were almost a million beautiful porcelain products: vases, teapots, and powder boxes just to name a few. They were all made in the top four kilns in China, each a fine example of China's accomplishments in porcelain-making.
Over a hundred years later, Hatcher discovered the place where the Tek Sing sank. Even he, an experiences salvager, was shocked by the sheer number of porcelain pieces. It is said that all of the pieces piled on top of each other made a small mountain in the sea!
Even though most of the pieces were in good condition, many claim that Hatcher ordered his men to smash all of the pieces. He wanted every piece to sell for the highest price possible, and he thought the best way to do this was to get rid of the unimpressive items. He kept the best pieces on a ship away at sea for a year, then claimed them as his own under the UN Convention on the Law of the sea.
It's estimated that he made almost 40 million dollars from the "stolen" porcelain! This angered many people.
But some people have a little payback, because after it was sold, the porcelain increased in value by as much as 15 times!
About the Author:
Author D. Cheng has studied Chinese culture, calligraphy, and arts & crafts such as bone china tea sets for ages. Once in a while, he endorses skilled Chinese craftsmen. Check out some excellent China tea sets.
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