ON HIZEN PORCELAIN AND THE MANILA - ACAPULCO GALLEON TRADE

Abstract

Hizen porcelain was exported from Nagasaki by Dutch East India Company (VOC) ships and Chinese junks between the late 17th century and the middle of the 18th century. Many pieces of Hizen porcelain have been found at sites in Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, Malaysia and Indonesia, but there has been no evidence that Hizen porcelain was imported to Manila before our research. In March 2004, we examined sherds of porcelain unearthed at Intramuros in Manila and found several pieces of Hizen porcelain for the first time. Some of them were identical to the sherds of blue and white dishes unearthed in Mexico City and Guatemala. In March and May 2005, we examined sherds of porcelain unearthed in Taiwan and Southern China and found some pieces of Hizen porcelain. One sherd found in Taiwan is similar to those identified as Hizen porcelain in Manila. We can postulate that some Hizen porcelain was exported from Nagasaki to Manila via Taiwan and Southern China by Chinese junks. Some Hizen porcelain was consumed at the Intramuros in Manila; also, other Hizen porcelains were transported from Manila to Spanish colonies in the American Continent by Spanish galleon ships.