Page 109 - Chinese and Asian Ceramics from an Indonesian Collection

Ceramics from the Musi River

Figure 173. Kendi with short foot, height 10 cm, Southern
Thailand, C10–C14, from the Musi River, Sungai
Rebo site. Catalogue No. K1501.
However, Satingpra kendi from the Cirebon wreck in
Anon (2009) also have basal neck collars. Other variations
on the Satingpra kendi type from the Musi were: a finely
potted kendi with a tall pedestal foot stand (Figure 168);
a very tall foot stand narrowing at its base, which was flat,
and with two basal neck collars and a more complex
carination on the upper neck rim similar to Satingpra Figure 174. Bottle kendi with sharp carinations on neck
and upper rim, height 3.6 cm, Probably Central
type kendis from the Cirebon wreck in Anon (2009); an Thailand, C6–C10, from the Musi River, Sungai
elegant kendi with a brown burnished surface, moderate Rebo site. Catalogue No. K1561.
pedestal foot and everted filling rim with a long thin
curved spout (K880); a similar shaped kendi with a light River (K995), and similar in general two other smaller
‘fly-ash’ glaze (Figure 169) but with its spout missing; and unglazed ones from the Musi (K879, K1369).
a curved spout with five surfaces and a distal pointed collar If these unglazed kendis are contemporaneous with the
just short of its opening (K2420) very similar to spouts glazed one (K995)then it is likely that both were produced
and restored white kendi from Kok Moh, Satingpra, in after the 11th century because this was when the earliest
Stargardt (2012, page 22). glazed Khmer pottery appeared in either Cambodia or
Several other unique fine white paste kendi types Thailand (Bronson and Dales 1972). Although, they are
from the Musi River were probably produced at or near both likely to be Thai kendis rather than Khmer because
Satingpra rather than at Funan sites (in the Oc Eo culture) Angkorian brown glazed pottery was not exported, and,
from which they differed (Malleret 1960, Bong 2003). For with the possible exception of one small Khmer water
example, although Oc Eo kendi were also finely potted dropper (K2094), none was recorded by us from the
they tended to be a buff or pinkish-white colour rather Musi. In passing, the discovery of brown glazed Angkorian
than white, had a globular body rather than a variety jarlets produced in Buriram at Bang Kaeo in Khao Chai
of other different shapes, and a short foot ring rather Son, Phatthalung, dated at the 12th and 13th century is
than a taller pedestal foot with a recessed base. These unexplained (Piyakul 2014–2015).
additional unique kendis from the Musi include several, Two thinly potted jarlets made from fine cream
K1538, K2520, that were decorated with spots and stripes coloured fabric with a band of red slip around the upper
of red slip (Figure 170). These may be a late production body were found in the Musi (K898, K1996). Flattened
phase of the Satingpra kilns (fide Dr Atthasit), possibly globose cooking pots (K2153, K2673–4) were more
from the 11th or 12th centuries, but further excavations common though. These had round bases, moderate necks
and study are required (Srisuchat 2005) to provide an and everted rolled upper rims (Figure 172a–d). They were
accurate date. It is likely that the production of a small red probably also from Peninsula Thailand and dated about
slip spotted bowl (K1539) is associated with these kendis. mid-2nd millenium. They were variously decorated with
Another interesting kendi from the Musi River had an brownish slip neck and shoulder bands which usually
ovoid body, short erect spout with slightly bulbous tip and had patterns of long legged ‘reed’ birds between these
disproportionately large everted neck and pedestal foot two bands or simple stokes that were thin and angled or
stand, lotus leaf sculptured decoration on the lower body dense V or oblong-shaped.
and further decorated with bands of brown slip (Figure After the decline of the Pa-O and earthenware kilns
171). Interestingly, this kendi is similar in both form and in the Songkhla Lake (Satingpra) area at the end of the
sculptured decoration to a glazed kendi from the Musi 12th or 13th century the Thai Peninsula continued as an

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