Commemorating Indonesia’s Independence Day on 17 August, the Australian Government returned 333 ceramics recovered from the Tek Sing Shipwreck to the Government of Indonesia
The Tek Sing was a Chinese trade ship that ran aground on a reef and sank off the Indonesian coast in 1822.
So great was the loss of life, the shipwreck was later referred to as the “Titanic of the East.” Lost too was the ship’s cargo: nearly 350,000 pieces of Chinese blue and white porcelain. Sadly, much of the porcelain was auctioned off around the world.
Fortunately, many of the ceramics from the initial salvage expedition were seized by the Australian Government and returned to Indonesia in 2001.
Now
– exactly 200 years after the ship went down – Australia has returned more items to Indonesia. These latest objects – removed in a subsequent dive
– were recovered with the assistance of the Australian Federal Police, following an investigation after the objects were being advertised for sale online.
Australia’s Minister for the Arts, Tony Burke, said this handover is part of the Australian Government’s commitment to protecting and safeguarding the world's movable cultural heritage. “Returning these items to Indonesia
– where they belong
– is about righting a wrong.”
“These items should never have left Indonesia and been offered for sale. They belong with Indonesian cultural authorities so they can be properly preserved.”
“The Australian Government has firm views about the return of stolen pieces of cultural heritage. Where it was done to Australians, we want the objects back. And where Australia is holding objects, we ought not have we want to assist in their return.”
“By returning these items to Indonesia we also honour those who lost their lives in this disaster.”
The Australian Government thanks all the authorities and institutions
– Australian and Indonesian
– involved in the return of these items. This return reflects Australia’s long history of cooperation and friendship with Indonesia, and the Australian Government’s commitment to protecting and safeguarding the world's movable cultural heritage.