Page 99 - Chinese and Asian Ceramics from an Indonesian Collection

Ceramics from the Musi River

ware was a small (10–12 cm high) cylindrical vessel of
unknown purpose; these had orifice diameters of 6 cm.
A somewhat similar grey coloured cylindrical vessel with
a height of 14.2 cm and an orifice of 5.3 cm was found
in the Musi (Figure 141). Other forms found included
small flare-rimmed jars.
The more recent Angkor Borei phase, dated between
200–300 to 600, was characterised by fine buff wares. These
were the most widespread over the terrain of the Oc Eo
culture. They were characterised by their fine paste fabric
and several vessels forms. They had wall thickness that
varied from thin walled (< 4 mm)to much thicker walls
(> 7 mm) and had a buff or salmon colour, but could also
be white in hue and commonly with light or deep grey
carbon cores. Common forms included spouted vessels
(kendis), pedestal bowls, ring-based flare-necked jars
and red-slipped ring-based globular vessels. Oc Eo style
kendis Nos K1858, K2145 (Figure 142) and pedestal bowls
(K1470, K1887) were collected from the Musi. Figure 145. Jar, in the Dvaravati style, height 16.9 cm, from the
Additional Oc Eo style vessels found in the Musi Musi River. Catalogue No. K1435.
included, among others, a buff coloured bowl (Figure
143) decorated with an incised fern scroll around the
shoulder (reminiscent of the incised leaf venation pattern
in ‘Vajra ware’); a salmon coloured flare-necked jar
(K935); a chocolate coloured flare-necked jar (K1677),
both without foot rings; and a small buff coloured bottle
(K2047) with its neck missing.
Oc Eo style earthenware pottery from the Musi was
relatively most abundant at the Pusri site which had 38 per
cent of the 13 Oc Eo items with recorded site information.
Then, in order of abundance, Boom Baru (31 %), Sungai
Rebo (23%) and Batu Ampar (8%).

Central Vietnam
Most of Central Vietnam was dominated by the Sa-Huynh
civilization from about the 5th century BC to the 2nd
century AD. While Sa-Huynh pottery was as distinctive as
the ceramic tradition to which it gives its name, no example Figure 146. Stem-cup, in Dvaravati style, stamped with typical
of this tradition was observed from the Musi. Prior and star and rectangle pattern around upper rim,
Glover (2003) describe early-Cham pottery at Tra Kieu, height 11.6 cm, from the Musi River, Pusri site.
which grew out of Sa-Hunyh pottery, from about 200 BC Catalogue No. K2547.
to 600 AD. This Cham pottery included more kendis
and stamped flat based jars influenced by pottery from
the Chinese Warring States period. These jars, kendis
and high fired gray ware, and light red, pink, yellow and
grey shards became more prominent around 600. They
note that the kendis from Tra Kieu were characterised by
orange red globular bodies, short straight spouts, high
necks and foot rings, both with slightly everted, recurved
or upright, and an absence of handles and probably dated
from the 1st century to the 4th century. And that they
were rather similar to those found in the Oc Eo culture
to the south. Their main conclusion was that excavated
material came from a number of locations in the Thu
Bon Valley over a long period of time and was probably
household production and not a specialised industry
providing pottery to distant markets. This fact, plus the Figure 147. Stem-cup, in Dvaravati style, stamped with flower and
characteristics of jar and kendi shape and design, suggest leaves interspersed with crouching figure pattern,
that it is unlikely that early-Cham earthenware pottery height 12.3 cm, from the Musi River, Pusri site.
Catalogue No. K2341.
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