For centuries, the Silk Road was the only trading link between the East and the West. But when merchants began to venture across the world’s oceans in their unending quest for new and exotic treasures, other trading routes were established. One of the routes led to the islands of the Philippines. There, the famous South Sea pearls were already considered by the Chinese emperors as the most beautiful in the world.

The Pearl Road: Tales of Treasure Ships tells the incredible story of the discovery of the Pandanan wreck, a 15th century merchant vessel loaded with 5,000 pieces of remarkable preserved, priceless ceramics. It has become the most important underwater find of pre-colonial artifacts in the Philippines and in the whole of South East Asia.

Published in 1996 by Asiatype, Inc. and Christophe Loviny

184 pages