Page 117 - Chinese and Asian Ceramics from an Indonesian Collection

Ceramics from the Musi River

the 11th–12th century, after which the Vajrayana religion
began to decline in Indonesia.

CHINA
Some of the unglazed pottery found in the Musi was
probably from China. These included fine red terracotta
polished plate (K2024) which had a low foot ring with a
bi-disc base similar to certain glazed plates made during
the Tang Dynasty. Several other Majapahit-style kendis
(K1506, K2498, K2577, K2591) may also have been made
in South China. They were similar to lightly glazed kendis
(K2538, K2544) possibly made during the Southern Song
Period in Fujian Province. One kendi (Figure 192) had
very fine incised decoration on the body not encountered
by us in similar Majapahit kendis. Another kendi (Figure
193) was of a primitive design and decorated with both
paddle striations and an unfamiliar collar of streaky thin
angled lines radiating from the base of the broad neck
to the shoulder.
Several other unglazed vessels from the Musi were
made in South China during the Late-Song period.
These included three storage jars [K1008–9, K1074, see
Chapter 6: Storage Jars page 113] and K1022, which
had a high-fired grey body. Figure 195. Two-spouted kendi, height 26.4 cm. A beautiful
balanced example of the skill of Lampung potters,
involving carved, incised, punctate and painted
INDIA slip patterns. Heirloom piece from Lampung
Hundred of pottery fragments attributable to Indian collected in Jakarta in 1998, probably C19–C20.
Fine Ware have been excavated from Sembiran, on the Catalogue No K33.
north coast of Bali (Ardika 1994, Ardika et al. 1991). Most
were roulette/chattered decorated dishes (including
coarser paste copies), but also a stamped bowl, a plain and Sembiran (Bali) probably came directly from the
bowl and a dish with a stamped base. Bouvet (2012) Bay of Bengal.
investigated other sites in South East Asia for Indian Bouvet (2012: 292) also noted that a dish decorated
Fine Ware, and documented a further eight sites with with roulette dated from the 1st centuries of the first
Fine Ware, characterised by very fine, compact and finely millennium was found near the Musi River at Palembang.
micaceous paste. These are the Thai Peninsular sites of: But comments that there was no photograph or
Khao Sam Kaeo, Phu Khao Thong, Bang Kluay Nok, Wat publication to verify this information, which was derived
Pathumtharam, Tha Chana and the caves of Tham Tuay from an Indonesian cultural website and published by
sites in Thailand, all of which are contemporary (4th Schenk (2006). While we were unable to confirm the
century BC to 2nd century AD). And Batujaya in West existence of early-Indian roulette ware in the Musi we
Java, which is more recent (1st century to end of the 4th did collect from there a finely potted black burnished
century or beginning 5th century). In addition to fine bowl with a convex base (Figure 194). This bowl was
ware at Batujaya, Manguin and Augustijanto (2011) also decorated with roulette/chattered triangular marks on
found shards of crude local copies of the earlier fine ware. five neck shoulder carinations. It was produced in India
Bronson and Dales (1972: 42) also noted that the site of during the Medieval period (5th to 15th century). Dr
Chansen in Central Thailand had domestic pottery which Heidrun Schenk examined its photo and considered it
dated from the start of the 1st millennium to mid way (pers.comm.) to be a cooking pot typical of those found
through the 3rd century. They noted that this domestic Tissamaharama in the southern Province of Sri Lanka
pottery ‘looks more Indian than South East Asian’. and South Asia. Further, she stated that such carinated
Bouvet (2012) was unable to confirm the discovery cooking pots do not appear before around 800… and that
of a fragment of a dish decorated with roulette from they are a …. distinctly medieval development. She also
Beikthano, Burma, mentioned by Aung Thaw (1968). saw shards of similar vessels in archaeological excavations
Although she considers that a surface shard from Phú- in Bali (pers. comm.).
C’u, Quáng-ngâi Province, South Vietnam, is possibly a Interestingly Dr Schenk noted that Wheeler et al.
dish decorated with roulette. Bouvet (2012) speculated (1946) does classify cooking pots similar to K2306 as
that Phu Khao Thong was a transit warehouse port for Roulette Ware from Arikamedu and provided it a Roman
Indian Fine Wares, which were then re-distributed to date. However, as pointed out by Schenk (2006) not all
Peninsular Thailand. While those at Batujaya (West Java) pottery from Arikamedu was from the Roman era, which
has led to incorrect postings of the dates for some pottery

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