China Culture | Tang Treasures from Arabic shipwreck are on display at the Aga Khan Museum, Toronto

An exhibition of Tang treasures from a 1,200-year-old Arabic shipwreck opened in December at the Aga Khan Museum in Toronto, Canada. The exhibit, done in cooperation with Singapore, runs until April 26. The exhibition features hundreds of relics from the Tang Dynasty and uncovers a story from the Maritime Silk Road that was hidden for a long time.

In the 1990s, a fisherman found many ceramics when he was fishing for sea cucumbers near the coast of Belitung Island, Indonesia.

A German salvage company excavated the relics for one year after a wreck the ceramics came from was proved to be an ancient Arabian dhow called Batu Hitam, which sailed a route between Africa and China.

Tens of thousands of ancient porcelain, gold and silver wares and bronze mirrors were discovered during the salvage operation. The Arabian dhow offers a new insight into the trade routes between China and the Middle East during that period, and is seen as one proof of the Maritime Silk Road.

Since 2002 several Chinese museums have asked to buy these Chinese relics from Indonesia and the salvage companies, but haven’t succeeded. In 2005, a Singapore company acquired the treasures for more than $30 million. Since then, these treasures from the Tang Dynasty have been kept in Singapore.

Tang Treasures from Arabic shipwreck are on display at the Aga Khan Museum, Toronto

A porcelain cup salvaged from the shipwreck.

A porcelain dish salvaged from the shipwreck

A golden plate salvaged from the shipwreck.

A gold cup salvaged from the shipwreck is one of the most important examples of Tang gold ware discovered overseas.

A golden plate with a ”卍” mark salvaged from the shipwreck.

A bronze mirror salvaged from the shipwreck

A ceramic bowl salvaged from the shipwreck.

A bronze mirror salvaged from the shipwreck.

Tang Dynasty white and blue dishes salvaged from the shipwreck.

The ceramic bowls salvaged from the shipwreck.

A ceramic bowl salvaged from the shipwreck.

Gold and silver articles

Ceramic bowls salvaged from the shipwreck

A ceramic pot salvaged from the shipwreck

The head of the ceramic pot salvaged from the shipwreck.

Tang Treasures from Arabic shipwreck are on display at the Aga Khan Museum, Toronto

Discover, Explore and Learn more at

• China Culture | Tang treasures from Arabic shipwreck are on show
• Xinhuanet – China News | Tang treasures from Arabic shipwreck are on show
• http://kr.people.com.cn/n/2015/0123/c207466-8840210.html

Earlier & Related from the Ismailimail Archives:

• Aga Khan Museum Book Collection: Tang Treasures and Monsoon Winds: Paperback Edition debuts January 6, 2015
• Inside Toronto / North York Mirror | Shipwreck treasure exhibit at Aga Khan Museum
• Event – December 10 – April 26 | Aga Khan Museum, Toronto: New Exhibition Launch: The Lost Dhow – A Discovery from the Maritime Silk Route
• Shanghai Daily 上海日报 | Toronto’s Aga Khan Museum reveals marvel of China’s impact on Islamic art

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