Photos of ceramics, and article interpretation by Robert Kokenyesi, Ceramic Artist, Beachfront Pottery, Godfrey, IL, 62035, USA. If you enjoyed this post, then give me a “like” on my Facebook page. Check out Beachfront Pottery posts on Instagram @beachfrontpottery. There is additional information about Beachfront Pottery on my web site.
The Published News Article
Legal Battle Continues for ‘Holy Grail of Shipwrecks’ with Billions in Treasure Onboard
When the 310-year old Spanish Navy galleon San Jose was discovered in 2015 a wave of excitement ran through global media. Not only had a historically significant ship with deep cultural value been found, it was supposedly brimming with $18 billion in booty. Dubbed the ‘holy grail of shipwrecks,’
This article describes the riches that some sunken galleons carried with them. There is abut $18 billion worth of gold, silver, emeralds and other jewels in this shipwreck. Ships that sank hundreds of years ago fall apart under water because of the corrosion and rotting of the wooden beams, and because of currents. The San Jose in this article is a shipwreck whose scattered pieces cover a large area on the seafloor.
Beachfront Pottery Pieces
I made several attempts to convey the spirit and the feel of old galleon shipwrecks. I found the canvas panel backing a great support for ceramic and glass pieces. The N.S. in my pieces represent “Nuestra Senora” or “Our Lady” in Spanish, which was commonly used as part of names of ships in the Spanish galleon fleet.
Inspiration for Future Ceramic Pieces
One aspect that inspires me about old shipwrecks is that the partially buried wreck gives a minimal suggestion that there is a ship-shaped object on the seafloor. The arrangement of the debris pieces, the reflection of light from the seafloor, or color changes can all indicate that something lies down there. Experimenting with these parameters, and including glass with ceramic creations will result in many future pieces about galleon shipwrecks.