Page 118 - Chinese and Asian Ceramics from an Indonesian Collection

Chapter 5. Unglazed, Slipped & Painted Wares in the Musi River

found there. Concerning the date of this Musi bowl it
is most likely to have arrived in Palembang in the 11th
century during the invasion of Palembang by the Indian
Cholas in 1025.

MODERN PERIOD (16TH CENTURY TO PRESENT)
Sumatran pottery
In Sumatra, Barry (1989 in Edwards McKinnon 2003)
reported that five types of locally made earthenware were
produced at or near Bengkulu, Sumatra, between the
17th and 18th century. To these were added a further
five imported pottery types, including fine paste ware
and others of Sundanese/ Bantenese origin. The local
ware was mainly shards of blackened paddle impressed
cooking pots, some of which were slipped, and vessels
decorated with red painted stripes. Occasional shards were
also incised. Most wares in Sumatra were undecorated
cooking pots. However, a form of spoutless kendi and
a bottle were made in the Padang Lawas area of South
Tapanuli. Such kendis with incised or carved decorations
are still made in Tapanuli, around Danau Tawar in north-
eastern Aceh and Langkat, North Sumatra. Finely potted
earthenware kendis from Kota Kapur on Bangka Island
may, according to Edwards McKinnon (2003), pre-date Figure 196. Kendi, two spouts, height 14.5 cm, local ware,
probably from the Lampung District, C8–C19, from
imported stonewares and may be 17th century. Bartlett the Musi River, Sungai Rebo site. Catalogue K2336.
writing in 1927 (in Edwards McKinnon 2003) described
production at Kampung Pinang in Asahan, Sumatra, of
unglazed red painted censers and crude cooking pots
with a poor salt glaze. These vessels were distributed
along the east coast as far as Langkat, but they were no
longer produced.
In 1998, we purchased a collection of earthenware from
Takengon in the southern Aceh highlands. It comprised
approximately sixty dark grey earthenware vessels, which
included most of the types illustrated in a booklet on
traditional ceramics from Aceh (Anon 1983/1984).
These vessels were all stored by Garo people in their
houses as heirlooms and used for ceremonial purposes.
They appeared to have some age and apparently were
no longer produced. They included a range of carinated
jars and pots, salt containers, bottles and kendis and in
some instances were intricately decorated with Sa Huynh/
Kalanay style incised designs. None of this style of pottery
was found in the Musi.
Solheim (1959) reports that both Heekeren and Van
der Hoop found vessels in Sumatra which had rounded
body, high necks and narrow mouths with incised
rectangular designs around their necks associated with
burial urns. And similar pottery associated with burial
urns in Melolo, Sumba, all of which Solheim considered
had some relationships with the Sa-Huynh–Kalanay style
pottery. None of these were found in the Musi.
Closer to Palembang, Edwards McKinnon (2003)
reported that the village of Siguring, which is in Kecamatan
Curup overlooking the upper reaches of Air Musi as it Figure 197. Kendi, two spouts, height 26.1 cm, local ware
probably from the Lampung District, C8–C19, from
flows down to Palembang, produced impressed cord ware. the Musi River, Boom Baru site. Catalogue K2190.
Further, that at several sites in Palembang an ancient
pottery tradition existed on the edge of the Musi River.
Excavations at sites at Karanganyar in ancient ‘west’

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