The Griffin is an English ship built in 1747 in the Blackwall dockyard along the Thames River in London. It was one of the ships of the English East India Company (also called Honourable East India Company, or HEIC) that actively pursued trade with the East Indies and its vicinities, which included China. Its registered capacity is 499 tons, with 26 cannons and a 99-man crew to manage and protect the ship as it traded with the East Indies.
In 1761, the Griffin was wrecked after hitting a reef northwest of Basilan Island, in the Southern Philippines. The ship’s entire cargo rapidly sank as a result of the accident. After two centuries, from 1984 to 1986 an archaeological excavation was conducted by the Worldwide First Company and the National Museum of the Philippines, leading to the recovery of the ceramics and other artifacts from the shipwreck.
Delving into the historical context, it’s worth noting that as early as the 16th century, there was a flourishing trade in ceramics from China to various European countries. In the 18th century, the East India Company had established dominance in Chinese porcelain importation through the Canton port. This period revealed intense trade activities in Canton, resulting in considerable demands on the Jingdezhen porcelain factories.
The Griffin shipwreck artifacts are showcased at the National Museum of the Philippines and housed at the NMP Zamboanga repository. These 18th-century relics are remnants of the Southern Philippines’ role in maritime trading.