Page 73 - Chinese and Asian Ceramics from an Indonesian Collection

Ceramics from the Musi River

Figure 69. Spittoon, height 11.2 cm, Qing Dynasty, Guangdong
Province, probably Shiwan kilns. C19, from the Musi
River, Sungai Rebo site. Catalogue No. K1560.

Figure 68. Mallet vase, over-glaze enamel green geckoes on
shoulder and black heron in fir tree on body, two
lugs gilted, height 19.8 cm, Qing Dynasty, 1644–1911,
from the Musi River, Pusri site. Catalogue No. K2319.

buddhas and seated women working on house chores were
found in the Musi (Figure 71). Identical toys were found
in the cargo of the Diana shipwreck off Malacca which
was transporting them from China to Calcutta and/or
Madras in India for the East India Company, along with
other ceramics, when it struck rocks and sank in 1817.
Norman (1995) stated that such toys were not found in
other wreck cargoes or in India and suggests that the
Diana was initiating trade in such toys between China and
India. Whatever the situation, Palembang played a role in
such trade as these toys were fairly common in the Musi
and were found at a several sites, mostly at Pusri (6), but Figure 70. Squatting ‘wrestler’ carrying a small back-pack and
also at nearby Boom Baru (1) and from the more distant clutching a cloth and with glazed patches on the
Sungai Rebo site (2). shoulders, left leg and buttock re-constructed, height
Several similar moulded sancai figures of dogs but of 14.9 cm, probably Qing Dynasty, 1644–1911, from
better quality were also found (K903, K1951) as well as the Musi River. Catalogue No. K1482.
a Foo Lion (Figure 72) and a blue robed man seated on

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