Page 18 - Ming Porcelain Primer

Chab Sikureung, the seal
52 DISH
Porcelain, Zhangzhou (Swatow) ware, tional Chinese symbolism having no special connection with Islam. By
decorated with overglaze enamels
H 6.6 cm, Dia. 36.4 cm
Inv.-No. OKS 1979-033
PROVENANCE: Acquired by the OKS
from the antique dealer Refuge
of Sultan Tuanku
Muhammed Daud, Aceh,
c. 1900.
A number of decorations on blue-and-white Zhangzhou dishes have refer-
ences to Arabic script, which were incorporated into patterns of tradi-
contrast, this enamelled dish with Arabic writing is entirely devoted to
script. There is no other decoration.
The large roundel in the centre of this dish is surrounded by eight
smaller roundels, all of which are filled with quotations from the Koran, in
green enamel – green being the colour of Islam.
The inner roundel has in several repetitions: ‘Mohammad is the mes-
senger of Allah’ [Muhammad rasul allah] and ‘There is no God but Allah’
[la ilaha ilallaha], which form the shahada, the creed of Islam. The surround-
ing roundels are also filled with these and other quotations. The space
between the outer roundels is filled with the words ‘Sword of Allah’, the
most honourable title for a Muslim ruler. The roundel shown in the detail
is filled with the quotation ‘You resemble Ali when he comes to the beauty
of the temples’.
A dish like this with nine circles was called Piring Sikureueng, or
Sikureueng plate, in Aceh, Northern Sumatra, where it is commonly found.
It is believed these plates were specially ordered by the sultans there.
Under Sultan Iskandar Muda’s reign (1607–1636) Aceh became the most
powerful Islamic kingdom in South East Asia. The capital, Kutaraja (now
Banda Aceh), was a centre of trade and Islamic learning.
The design of this dish might be related to the Aceh royal seal, Chab
Sikureueng, ‘nine-fold seal’, which represents the royal lineage and is
central to Aceh identity. It was used on all official documents and is made
up of nine circles comprising the names of the sultans of Aceh: the largest
circle contains the name of the reigning sultan and the eight circles are
the names of the celebrated sultans who preceded him.
With thanks to Dorothée Kreuzer and Amalia Levanoni for the translations.
Ref.: Saito 1978, pl. 9 and pp. 99–101; Lion-Goldschmidt 1978, pl. 291; Ridho 1982, pl. 249; Krahl and Ayers
1986, vol. 2, p. 895, no. 1939; Adhyatman 1990, p. 137, pls 111 and 112, the seal is illustrated on p. 136,
pl. 110; Canepa 2006, pp. 173–177, no. 40; Tan 2007, p. 172, pl. 170; Crick 2010, pp. 380–381, no. 259.
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