INTRODUCTION & BACKGROUND INFORMATION

 

 

The purpose of this Website is to share information on the results of study, research, and collection of Southeast Asian and Chinese Trade Ceramics from the early 1970’s to 2020.  This has included documenting sources and availability of trade ceramics, including shipwreck recoveries, in the various Southeast Asia locations during this period.  Areas of particular interest include Southeast Asia wares, Shipwreck ceramics, Chinese Trade Wares, and Swatow (Zhangzhou) ceramics.  

 

This website has been launched to document and disseminate the results of this study and collection of Southeast Asia ceramics and shipwreck materials over the 45 year period.  The objective is to foster greater understanding and appreciation of the ceramic arts of Southeast Asia and relevant Chinese wares, as well as to document and preserve valuable data which would otherwise be lost.

 

Background information for this writer includes the following:  study, research and collecting of Chinese and Southeast Asian ceramics started in the early 1970’s while residing in Hong Kong for three years and continued on through 1995 to 2018 while living in Thailand and from 2019 to 2020 while residing in Cambodia.  From the posh salesrooms of Christie’s on Park Avenue in New York and Sotheby’s on Oxford Street in London to the dusty little antique shops on Jalan Pattimura in Makassar, Sulawesi, Indonesia and the fishermen’s huts on Marinduque Island in the Philippines, a myriad of sources have been consulted and pursued.  

 

Much of the study, research and acquisition was conducted in Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Hong Kong.  Also included were New York, London, Amsterdam, Sydney, Singapore, Taipei, and San Francisco as well as Burma and Laos.  Over the many years a network of excellent local contacts was developed and maintained in Vietnam, Indonesia, Philippines, Malaysia, Hong Kong, and Thailand.  In Malaysia, for example, many field visits were made to shipwreck excavator Sten Sjostrand of Nanhai Marine Archaeology, Malaysia for invaluable updates and insights.  Endau, Malaysia (and other locations) were also visited for study and research of shipwreck ceramics recovered from Malaysian and adjacent territories.

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Numerous field visits and research trips were also made to ancient kiln sites and excavation areas in Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines, Vietnam, Cambodia, Burma and Malaysia.  Field and research visits made to ancient kiln sites in Thailand included Sukhothai, Payang and Kho Noi at Sisatchanalai; Phitsanalouk; as well as Sankampaeng, Kalong, Wang Nua and Amphor Phan in Northern Thailand; along with Ban Chiang and Buriram (Tao Nai Chian, Tao Sawai and Ban Prasat) in the North-East of Thailand.  Kiln site areas visited in Vietnam included Chu Dau, Bat Trang and Champa.  

 

The Pagan and Pegu areas in Burma were also visited. Excavation areas visited in Indonesia included Maros, Pancayeni, Goa, and Palopo on Sulawesi; Musi River in Palembang, Sumatra; Banten, West Java – ancient port site; as well as Sumba and the Moluccas.  Research trips in Cambodia included kiln site areas in Tani, Ban Hong, and Kulen in Siem Reap Province.  In the Philippines field and research visits were made to Palawan, Busuanga, Marinduque, Puerto Galera, Cebu, Mindanao, Samar, Laguna de Bay, Mindoro, and Santa Ana.

 

Society membership:  The Oriental Ceramic Society of Hong Kong -  member since the founding in 1975; also long time member of The Oriental Ceramic Society of London since the early 1980’s.

 

Editorial Staff and Contributor for the Southeast Asian Ceramics Museum Newsletter and Museum volunteer at Bangkok University from April 2004 to May 2018.

 

Donations to museums:  Pacific Asia Museum - Pasadena, California; Florida Atlantic University - Boca Raton, Florida; the Southeast Asian Ceramics Museum – Bangkok, University (donation currently on display).  Donations to private collections:  Singapore, Thailand, United States of America.

 

Areas of concentration include:  Southeast Asian ceramics (Thai, Vietnamese, Burmese and Khmer), Shipwreck Ceramics, and Swatow (Zhangzhou) wares.

 

Publications & Presentations  -  Southeast Asian Ceramics Museum Newsletter and others, see LIST

 

Personal note - although lacking in formal academic credentials, most importantly I do have a long abiding interest and passion in the subject matter.  It was also my great advantage and honor of working very closely with Roxanna Brown at the Southeast Asian Ceramics Museum from April 2004 until her untimely, tragic and controversial death on May 14, 2008.  During that period, as well as several years before back to when we first met, I greatly benefited from Roxanna’s great knowledge and expertise in Southeast Asian ceramics, shipwrecks, and Chinese trade wares.

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