Chinese Shipwreck Funnel-Form Mercury Storage Vessel

Peachy-beige with a flat, battered top and the stance of a sensible ice cream cone.

This shipwreck funnel-form mercury storage vessel is from Cizao Kilns, Fujian Province, China. It is stoneware. Ceramics fired and glazed at high temperatures could stay unaffected for centuries underwater, especially when buried beneath silt, while most other trade cargo was destroyed, swept away or disintegrated over time. Conical vessel with a broad flat shoulder showing rough, chipped patches and a narrow base. The surface is warm pinkish tan with a few pale scratches and tiny dark pits. It is 5 inches wide, 5 deep and 6.5 high.

A modest shade for a piece that stands upside-down gracefully.