Page 101 - Chinese and Asian Ceramics from an Indonesian Collection

Ceramics from the Musi River

Also found in the Musi was a primitive and rare form
of earthenware basin or cup (Figure 148) of unknown
origin but possibly Thai.

MIDDLE TO LATE-CLASSICAL PERIOD (10TH–15TH
CENTURY)
The Middle Classical Period was from the 10th–13th
century and was characterised by the rise of Javanese
expansionism; increased urbanization and commerce;
use of currencies; and introduction of Islam. The Late-
Classical Period was from the 14th–15th century. It was
characterised by poor maintenance of royal temple
complexes; a higher social integration; and a decline of
Hindu traditional cults in ‘preparation’ for Islam.

Sumatra
The most comprehensive excavation and treatment of
terracotta pottery in Sumatra was by Edwards McKinnon
(1984) at Kota Cina, on the east coast of West Sumatra.
This was an important settlement between the 11th–14th
century. Kota Cina was influenced by the Cola Indians
from the late-1st millennium when it was possibly occupied Figure 149. Miniature terracotta house, height 8.5 cm, Java,
Majapahit period, C14–C15, from the Musi River,
by Tamil merchant guilds. However, the abundance of Dusun Cengal Nya site. Catalogue No 2670.
Chinese ceramics of the Song and Yuan Dynasties and
associated coin make it clear that from the mid-to late-
12th to the end of the 14th century, Kota China was
dominated by the Chinese, after which it appeared to
have been abandoned.
Almost 65 per cent of the three-quarters of a ton of
ceramic shards excavated from Kota Cina by Edwards
McKinnon was low-fired earthenware. He considered a
large part of the sand tempered earthenware and white
slipped earthenware from Kota Cina appeared to be
directly related to the Bau-Malay ‘tradition’. Although
the fine paste ware shards were, according to Barbara
Harrisson (in Miksic 1979), similar to the Sa-Huynh
tradition and had a connection with “‘Hindu symbolism
and aesthetics”. Edwards McKinnon (1984) largely
followed Miksic (1979) by classifying low-fired ceramics at
Kota Cina into three major categories: i) Fine paste ware;
ii) other earthenware of problematic origin (both wheel
made); and iii) common earthenware (involving paddle
and anvil technique, at least in the finishing stages) and
sand or shell tempered fabric. A total of 11 distinct types
of paddle and anvil made earthenware were reported
from Kota Cina by Edwards McKinnon (2003). Three of
these types were made with a wheel. These comprised fine
paste ware, yellow glazed ware of probable Persian origin Figure 150. Miniature granary or shed, saddle roof, height 5
cm, Majapahit period, C14–C15, from the Musi
and a painted buff ware of uncertain origin. Among the River, Dusun Cengal Nya site. Catalogue No. K2669.
paddle and anvil types found at Lhok Cut and Lambaro
in Aceh was a carinated red ware similar to a common with either the Bau-Malay or Sa-Huynh decorative styles,
medieval ware from South India and a Sri Lankan piece. such as those illustrated by Edwards McKinnon (1984).
Extensive collections have been accumulated from Regrettably we cannot with any confidence date or be
the historic period sites in the Batanghari and Musi sure of the provenance of many of the plain low-fired
River Basins in southern Sumatra which were related to earthenware from the Musi because of the lack of well
the Malayu and Sriwijaya Kingdoms. But, as mentioned dated Sumatran reference material or the ability to
by Edwards McKinnon (2003), these collections have conduct modern analytical approaches. Large amounts
been incompletely analysed, especially the earthenware. of the Musi earthenware pottery was from the nearby
Interestingly, the Musi earthenware was rarely decorated Lampung District.Some was Majapahit-style from Java

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