Page 234 - Vol_2_Archaeology of Manila Galleon Seaport Trade

206 E. Von der Porten

Figs. 12.27, 12.28 Porcelain designs for Japanese markets

Figs. 12.29–12.31 Kraak wares with different designs

come from one of the items of Chinese furniture mentioned in the European
accounts of the Manila trade 15 (Fig. 12.32). Other metal objects can be ascribed to
the enameled boxes which also are listed in the ships’ inventories. A brass plate’s
hinge section had been sheared off during the shipwreck, (Fig. 12.33) while a
decorative brass plaque still has its mounting tacks (Fig. 12.34). A bronze securing
pin with two brass rings (Fig. 12.35) also appears to belong to a box, as do two
brass keys (Fig. 12.36).
Two Chinese bronze mirrors must have been exotics to the Europeans, who had
silvered glass mirrors (Fig. 12.37). The purpose of a thin bronze disc is unknown
(Fig. 12.38). Is it a simple mirror with a center hole substituting for the hole in the
knob in standard mirrors?
The brass lock plate from a Chinese or Southeast-Asian matchlock !rearm may
be a left-over from the 1574 Chinese pirate attack on Manila, but we will never

15
Some of the small metal objects have not yet been analyzed and published because many of them
were found recently.