A MINIATURE VUNG TAU CARGO BLUE AND WHITE PORCELAIN VASE, c. 1680China, Kangxi period (1661-1722). The slightly lobed globular body rising from a domed foot to a waisted neck and everted rim, painted at the exterior in vibrant tones of underglaze blue with five cartouches filled with flower blooms borne on leafy stems, such as prunus, peony and chrysanthemum, the neck with thin bamboo stalks painted in delicate strokes above a geometric band on the shoulder.Condition: Excellent condition with minor wear and firing irregularities, the exterior with surface alteration consistent with objects from maritime salvage. Provenance: Estate of an Austrian collector, the collection was assembled in the 1980s – 1990s through purchases at Galerie Zacke and other specialized galleries in Vienna. Vung Tau Cargo label to the underside. Weight: 55 g Dimensions: Height 8.5 cmThe 'Vung Tau Cargo' was discovered in 1989 by a Vietnamese fisherman off the coast of Vietnam. It was salvaged by the Vietnam Salvage Corporation and Sverker Hallstrom, a Swedish diving expert based in Singapore. The salvaged items were later sold at an auction in Amsterdam in 1992. The ship was an Asian trading vessel that contained porcelain dating back to the Kangxi period (1662-1722), indicating a rapid increase in production during that time. The popularity of blue and white porcelain in interior decoration was credited to Daniel Marot, a French designer, particularly in Holland and later in England. Marot's incorporation of porcelain into various room details set a distinctive Dutch style of display for porcelain collections during the 17th century.Galerie Zacke hosted a significant exhibition in 1992, showcasing several items acquired from the Christie's Amsterdam Sale.