Distinguishing Chinese and Japanese Blue and White Porcelain Using Comparative Materials Analysis: A Study of the Blue and White Ceramics from the 18th Century Shah Muncher Shipwreck and Japanese Hizen Ware of Similar Era

LAU Shin Yee Cindy* and TANIGUCHI Yoko

The 18th-century shipwreck of the Shah Muncher provides valuable insight into intra-Asian maritime trade networks. As a European-designed “Country ship,” it operated between India, Southeast Asia, and China, facilitating the exchange of highly sought-after commodities. Among the recovered cargo is a substantial assemblage of blue-and-white porcelain, presumed to have been produced primarily in Jingdezhen, China. During the same period, Japanese Hizen ware was also widely produced and distributed across global and Southeast Asian markets. Because kilns in both regions frequently emulated each other’s decorative motifs and typologies, distinguishing between these two porcelains traditions can be challenging when relying solely on stylistic observation. This study aims to (1) verify the production origins of the Chinese blue-and-white porcelains recovered from the Shah Muncher shipwreck and (2) develop a reproducible scientific methodology for distinguishing Chinese blue and white porcelain from Japanese Hizen ware through comparative materials analysis. The ceramics are examined using optical microscopy, portable X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (pXRF), and scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) to characterize their structural and elemental properties. Preliminary results suggest that the two porcelain groups may be differentiated through compositional variations, such as in the white glaze, through examination of the relative concentrations of potassium oxide (K₂O) and Strontium (Sr). Further analyses incorporating a larger dataset and comparisons of glaze and bulk compositions are ongoing. By integrating compositional and structural observations, this research contributes toward a more objective framework for provenance determination, complementing traditional stylistic connoisseurship.