Page 139 - Chinese and Asian Ceramics from an Indonesian Collection

Ceramics from the Musi River 5

Several moderate sized variant ii) type jars, namely,
K1206, K1481, K2023, K2189, K2247, of this second
group were found in the Musi (Figure 251 & Figure 252).
However, we are uncertain of their dates. For example,
Adhyatman and Ridho (1984, Figures 94 & 95) dated
similar jars to C14–C15 and C17–C18.
We saw only a single Tradescant jar from the Musi
(Figure 253). It was badly damaged and its blue and
yellow glaze was much degraded.
The third group had a bulbous body, short neck and
flared. This group was a simpler design than the second
group above. It comprised a pair of sprigged dragons on
the shoulder above rows of incised wavy lines. It appeared
to have been produced over a long period starting in the
17th and 18th century.

Qing Dynasty and modern
These were produced mainly in Guangdong and Fujian
Provinces following Ming traditions but they tended to
be a more predictable form and style due to the use of
stamps and moulds. They were, however, frequently vibrant
because of the use of polychrome glazes over the external
surface including the base. The use of latex moulds and Figure 258. Potiche (lid missing), grey iron under-glaze of
complex tendril and leaf decoration, height 16.7
stamps enabled potters to place large panels on curving cm, Central Thailand, Sri Satchanalai kilns, C14–
surfaces and is an indication of more modern jars. Most C16, from the Musi River. Catalogue No. K703.
common on these later jars is a pair of dragons placed
horizontally (or diagonally) their heads facing upwards
(Nyiri 2016). One polychrome dragon jar from the Musi
(K1635) was probably 19th century or modern and may
have been made in Kalimantan. A second large dragon jar
from the Musi (Figure 254) was decorated with applied
dragons and cloud pattern and glazed brown.
Other Qing Dynasty storage jars made in Quangdong
Province are still commonly found throughout Indonesia.
These were mostly olive, pale green or brown glazed jars
frequently with marked iron inclusions. Four such small
to moderately tall (22–47 cm high) jars from the Musi
were K2335, K2041, K2505, K2613 (Figure 255). One jar
without lugs and a watery chocolate glaze from the Musi
(Figure 256) was very similar to some found on the Tek
Sing wreck of 1825. An unidentified jar is probably from
China (Figure 257).

NON-CHINESE JARS Figure 259. Potiche (lid missing), height 12cm, Central
Thailand Thailand, Sri Satchanalai kilns, C14–C15. Catalogue
Grave and Maccheroni (2009) studied both the No. K1274.
geochemical composition and typology of dated Asian
transport jars during the transition to the early-Modern A great variety of Si Satchanalai ware and, to a lesser
period (1550–1650). This transition was coincident with extent other Central Thailand ceramics were recovered
the opening up of the Ming Dynasty to international trade. from the Musi, and in some abundance. Most of these
They were able to clearly differentiate the south-Central were dated from the 14th to 16th century and shipped
Thai kiln complexes in Singburi Province (Mae Nam Noi) from the Thai capital of Ayutthaya (which existed from
from those in Suphanburi Province. Brown and Sjostrand 1351 to 1767AD). Thai storage jars used to transport these
(2001) considered the storage jars produced in Singburi wares were also common. Until recently most of these jars
kilns the more important in the international maritime were thought to have been made in the Si Satchanalai
trade, a view contradicted by Grave and Maccheroni kilns and some from the Musi were from those kilns
(2009). Brown (2004) concluded from shipwreck material including, three under-glazed iron decorated potiches
that they operated from about 1400 to at least 1727 and with lugs (Figure 258 & Figure 259 and one white glazed
possibly until the fall of Ayutthaya in 1767. potiche (K2596); two attractive small jars tear-shaped jars

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