Chinese Shipwreck Funnel-Form Mercury Storage Vessel

Cream-colored and plump at the top, with a patch of tiny crusty bumps on its flank.

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. Rounded cone with a smooth, ivory-tan upper body and a tiny hole at the crown. A cluster of small raised crusty spots sits on the lower side, touched with orange stain. It is 4.25 inches wide, 4.25 deep and 7.5 high.

A bit of barnacle charm, entirely uninvited.