A pair of rare 16th Century pewter dishes Attributed to Sir Thomas Curtis of London (1520-1559) With bossed centres, the plain borders each with a circular maker's mark to the exterior, 20cm diameter (2) Footnotes: Provenance From the Punta Cana pewter wreck, a mid-16th century vessel lost off Punta Cana, on the eastern coast of Hispaniola (present-day Dominican Republic), generally dated to circa 1545. The vessel remains unidentified and carried a mixed cargo of European goods, including an exceptional assemblage of approximately twelve hundred pieces of pewter including plates, platters, porringers, salts and flagons, much of it apparently manufactured in England for the Spanish market. The wreck is of particular importance to the history of 16th century pewter, providing an unusually large and closely datable group of contemporary wares. A substantial proportion bears the marks of London pewterers, including the touchmark of Thomas Curtis, whose work is also represented amongst the pewter recovered from the Mary Rose, sunk in 1545. The wreck was excavated by Anchor Research & Salvage between 2011 and 2013, and a portion of the recovered material was subsequently consigned for sale. Purchased Wilkinson's Auctioneers, Doncaster, 'Early Oak, The 16th Century Punta Cana Pewter & The Synge-Craven Slipware Collection', 24 November 2013, lot 425. Literature See also M. Roberts, 'The Punta Cana Pewter Wreck: Pewter: Origins, Styles, Makers & Commerce', 2013. For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com For further information about this lot please visit the lot listing