UNIQUE treasures discovered on a ninth century Arab dhow have been unveiled in an exhibition titled Shipwrecked: Tang Treasures and Monsoon Winds, which has opened in Singapore at the ArtScience Museum, Marina Bay Sands.
The exhibition of one of the oldest and largest maritime archaeology finds of the 20th century is jointly organised by the Arthur M Sackler Gallery, Smithsonian Institute, the Asian Civilisations Museum, National Heritage Board, Singapore and Singapore Tourism Board (STB).
Shipwrecked relates the story of an astonishing cargo of 60,000 Chinese trade goods and luxuries carried on a ninth-century Arab dhow en route to the Middle East; presenting a dynamic tale of trade between China and the West via a maritime silk route along Southeast Asia. The cargo had lain undisturbed on the ocean floor before its discovery near Indonesia’s Belitung Island.
This is the first time the treasures have been put on public display and they include hundreds of mass-produced ceramics and intricate items of finely worked gold from China’s Tang Dynasty. The exhibition also illustrates the human stories of the dhow’s multi-ethnic crew.
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Jars from the shipwrecked vessel |
“This exhibition will change the way we visualise the contacts between East and West more than a millennium ago. As a vibrant multi-dimensional tourist destination, Singapore has always embraced its unique cosmopolitan diversity and heritage. This unique collection holds a special meaning for Singapore as it paints a different and deeper historical perspective of our island-nation and accentuates the link between the city state that exists today and the rich historical narrative of the past,” said Jason Ong, area director, Middle East and Africa, STB.
“Visitors to the exhibition will see the dhow’s most valuable treasures, such as a magnificent one-metre-high dragon-head ewer, a unique octagonal gold cup and a wealth of the famous Tang Dynasty blue and white ceramic ware. Many of these treasures have motifs and shapes that show a distinct Middle East influence.”
The Singapore exhibition is the first stop in a world tour that is expected to conclude in 2015. The exhibition runs until July 31 2011, however, plans for a permanent display in Singapore are in development.