Page 72 - Chinese and Asian Ceramics from an Indonesian Collection

Chapter 4. Glazed Ceramics in the Musi River

Company move to Batavia in 1619, the porcelain that
arrived in Palembang was likely delivered directly there by
Chinese merchants. When The Company moved to Batavia
it also apparently sent ceramics directly to Palembang
from Batavia, especially during the Wanli emperor’s reign.
However, it appears that these were probably wares of
lower quality unsuited for the European markets.
During the Qing Dynasty, some quality ware was
exported during the “transitional period” of 1644–1683
which was produced using the earlier traditions, such
that they were difficult to distinguish from Late-Ming
porcelain. Transitional wares generally improved after
the Qing court gained control of the Jingdezhen kilns
such that some extremely high quality blue and white
porcelain was exported during the Kangxi emperor reign.
These reached a peak of excellence in the late-17th and
early-18th century, when foot rings were mostly polished
or rounded off and under-glaze blue was carefully painted
using the water-drop method. Technically the blue and
white produced by the Kangxi potters was the finest made
in China, such that the best pieces had a translucent but Figure 67. Miniature watch towers, one with the tip missing,
heights 6.7 & 7.9 cm, from the Musi River Pusri site
brilliant cobalt without dark spots or blurred lines (Du (1). Catalogue Nos (L–R): K1992, K1213.
Boulay 1963). A considerable amount of Qing blue and
white ware from the Dehua kilns was sighted from the lead silicate glazes applied over porcelain and fired at
Musi but little was collected. medium temperatures, but Hobson notes that it is difficult
The few examples of Kangxi ware collected included to ascribe dates to such Ming and early-Qing polychromes
stem cups (Figure 64, jar (K2609), bowls (K1975, K2610) which included moulded wares, figures and ornaments,
and cup (K2581). This included ware that was similar to all of which were very much in vogue and opines that
that made famous by the salvage and sale of the cargo most later sancai ware was probably early-Qing rather
of the 1815 Tek Sing shipwreck in the South China Sea, than Ming. Two damaged miniature watch towers with
east of Sumatra (Figure 65). degraded sancai glaze from the Musi were probably Qing
(Figure 67)
Blanc De Chine wares (1368–1911) Attractive robust vases and jars were produced in
Dehua kilns along the Fujian coast produced a distinctive several centres from 1450 to 1550. They were usually
ware with bluish-white or yellowish-white glaze (Blanc de decorated with floral motifs. Many of the Qing Dynasty
Chine) from the Ming Dynasty to modern times. During porcelains of this period were enamelled directly onto
the Qing Dynasty such ware had a denser body, a milky the biscuit, especially figurines such as a parrot from the
white glaze and the porcelain was more translucent. These Musi (K2437). During the early-Kangxi period, over-glaze
kilns produced a variety of forms including figures, boxes, enamels were painted in concert with under-glaze blue
vases and jars, cups and bowls, fishes, lamps, cup-stands, (Wucai glaze). Later, blue was also used as an over-glaze
censers and flowerpots, animals, brush holders, wine and as was the case with the mallet vase in Figure 68.
teapots, religious and secular figures and puppets. Several polychrome late-Qing hexagonal jars missing
The most popular of these modelled figurines found in their lids made in the Shiwan (Shekwan) kilns, near
the Musi included Guan Yin, the Goddess of Mercy (Figure Foshan, Guangdong Province, were collected from the
66); Foo Lions, dogs, rabbits, deers and goats (K941, K944, Musi (K2036, K2061). Two bowls with red and green
K1033, K1036–8); a scholar (K2152); drummer (K943) over-glaze enamel patterns were also collected (K1611
and a breast feeding lady (K941). and K2117). A series of spittoons comprising K851, K984,
K1072, K1560, K1625, K1693, K1832, K2100, K2307,
Polychrome wares K2414–6 (Figure 69) were probably also made in the
Ming and Qing Dynasty monochrome porcelain was Shiwan kilns, sometime after 1800. They were of variable
present in the Musi but, apart from small green perfume height averaging 13.8 (11.2–20.3) cm. This type of spittoon
bottles (K1048, K2199) and a small long-necked yellow was apparently commonly used in opium dens. They were
bottle (K1417), only monochrome figurines were collected mainly a polychrome green and white sancai glaze and
by us. were decorated around the shoulder with small bosses and
Sancai ware was among the most impressive Ming an everted foot with deeply recessed base, some of which
Dynasty pottery. Green, yellow or turquoise, yellow and were stamped. Also collected was a figurine of a wrestler,
aubergine purple colours were used often separated which was possibly from the Qing Dynasty (Figure 70).
by raised lines. Hobson (1923) noted that the most A range of moulded small polychrome sancai glazed
characteristic Ming and Qing polychromes used alkali toys in the form of cockerels, ducks, dogs, men on horses,

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