couvercle théière teapot lid Collectible Chinese Kangxi - blue-on-white porcelain teapot lid - Shipwreck treasure - Bennebroek EF ensemble

From the shipwreck Bennebroek (1713)

Delivered with original (generic) certificate from the salvor.

The Bennebroek left Texel 7 may 1709 to Asia. Two years later she left Ceylon on 20-12-1712 for Holland with a cargo that reportedly included gems precious stones and other goods. She ran aground in broad daylight and began to break up immediately (16-2-1713).

The vessel had a crew of 15 and an unknown number of passengers. 57 Europeans and 20 Malabar slaves managed to get ashore but tragically it is thought that there were as much as 146 casualties.

The survivors started walking to Cape Town but most turned back after reaching an unfordable river. Only 1 slave but perhaps 5 slaves according to some sources reached the Cape alive on 26 February 1714.

Those who turned back lived near the wreck until June 1713 trading iron and copper for food with the locals. When this supply was exhausted they made another attempt to reach the Cape but after several weeks the survivors (7 Europeans) found refuge with a friendly group of locals.

The wreck was found in 1985 and some pieces of Chinese porcelain recovered as well as some bronze swivel cannon bearing the Amsterdam mark.

Decorated with blue flowers in a style familiar to those who collect porcelains from the Spanish 1715 and 1733 Fleets.