Archaeologists have recovered a trove of Chinese porcelain and European-made goods from a recently discovered 18th-century shipwreck off the coast of Norway, government and museum officials said on Monday.

The discovery was made by watch designer Espen Saastad and owner of a salvage firm in the Skagerrak strait off southern Norway, the Norwegian Maritime Museum said in a statement. Saastad is also taking part in the recovery of the artifacts.

The ship, coined the "Porcelain Wreck," is believed to have sunk around the mid-1700s, and was found at a depth of some 600 meters, the museum said.

"Based on what we have observed, we believe the vessel is round-sterned, possibly of the type known as a galliot - a characteristic merchant vessel in Northern Europe," the statement explained, though noting that the wreckage measured at 22 meters long and included the remains of two masts.

Among the goods found in the remains of the unnamed sailing ship were tightly stacked white and blue porcelain bowls as well as goblets, textiles, grain, and parts of chandeliers.

Several crates filled with what may have once been tea, herbs, and medicines were also found among the wreckage.

Two anchors, hawse pipes (part of the anchoring system), the remains of a possible telescope and galley, and an iron stove were found, though the rudder and keel of the ship have yet to be discovered. The museum noted that the ship appeared to not have borne any cannons either.

According to the museum, one of the more intriguing finds was a brick identified as having come from the Lübecker Ratsziegelei, a brickworks in Lübeck that operated from the 15th century until 1772.

The reason for the ship sinking has yet to be discovered, as well as its point of origin and destination.

DNA analysis of grains found in the wreckage will be studied to see if researchers can pinpoint where they might have originated from.

"This find is not only extraordinary, it's also of considerable scientific value and demonstrates an important technological advancement in underwater archaeology," Norway's Climate and Environment Minister Andreas Bjelland Eriksen said in a statement. "It provides us with new and valuable insight into Norway’s and Northern Europe’s maritime history, and will be of great importance for archaeological research and dissemination, as well as cultural heritage management."

"I had to rub my eyes when I grasped the scale of this find. It is almost beyond belief. I look forward to learning more," said Hanna Geiran, director-general of the Norwegian Directorate for Cultural Heritage.

"Shipping has been central to Norwegian culture since time immemorial," added Norway’s Culture and Equality Minister Lubna Jaffery. "This discovery could offer new insights into Norway’s coastal heritage."

"The recovery effort highlights the Norwegian Museum of Cultural History's unique breadth of expertise and its ability to undertake complex projects that advance research and serve the public interest."

Artifacts uncovered from The Porcelain Wreck is currently on display at the Norwegian Maritime Museum. The exhibit will be open to the public until June 21.