Ming jackpot

Java wreck yields vast porcelein cargo

A massive, 500-year-old cargo of early eastern Ming porcelain, found in a wreck off Java, could be worth up to £30 million. The cargo is largely intact, as the heavily laden ship went straight down rather than rolling before sinking.
So far some 10,000 pieces, including plates, bowls and figurines, have been raised by Cannes-based New Zealander Antonia Goodland-Clark, who holds the salvage rights. They are being restored under the supervision of Indonesia's National Museum.
Three different types of procelein have been found: green Chinese celadon Ming, blue and white Annamese from Vietnam, and Thai ceramics. An expert at the British Museum has described the find as "extremely exciting".
Mrs Goodland-Clark is currently raising funds for further salvage of the wreck, which lies mainly buried in mud. She aims to use an Indonesian diving team and has agreed to split sales profits with the Indonesian government.
She expected a "leading auction house" to be selling items from the wreck within two years, the treasure making anything "from £10 million up to £30 million".