Bowl

Bowl, heavily potted, everted foliate rim, foot beveled inward; slightly recessed unglazed base with ring of black residue from tubular firing support. Defects; two lenticular shaped raised areas in paste, perhaps bubbles; one small gritty inclusion in glaze.
Clay: grey porcelanous stoneware with brown speckles (impurities).
Glaze: celadon, pale watery transparent pale blue-green, low gloss, medium crystalline crackle (according to March classification), pooled off-center in bottom, running thin on rim and center bottom. (The gray body showing through gives a grayish surface appearance), runs unevenly onto foot.
Decoration: incised and carved. Triple lines define rim shape; cavetto has an upper decorated band and a plain zone; a deep double line surrounds the bottom which has a central floral medallion. Outside, multiple rings edge the cavetto curve, top and bottom. Deep vertical grooves give the appearance of fluting.

Historical period(s)
Ayutthaya period, 15th century
Medium
Stoneware with celadon glaze
Style
Sawankhalok ware
Dimensions
H x W x D: 8.4 x 27.2 x 27.2 cm (3 5/16 x 10 11/16 x 10 11/16 in)
Geography
Thailand, Sukhothai province, Si Satchanalai, Ban Ko Noi kilns
Credit Line
Purchase — Charles Lang Freer Endowment
Collection
Freer Gallery of Art Collection
Accession Number
F1977.21
On View Location
Currently not on view
Classification(s)
Ceramic, Vessel
Type

Bowl

Keywords
Ayutthaya period (1351 - 1767), flower, green glaze, Sawankhalok ware, stoneware, Thailand
Provenance
Provenance research underway.
Description

Bowl, heavily potted, everted foliate rim, foot beveled inward; slightly recessed unglazed base with ring of black residue from tubular firing support. Defects; two lenticular shaped raised areas in paste, perhaps bubbles; one small gritty inclusion in glaze.
Clay: grey porcelanous stoneware with brown speckles (impurities).
Glaze: celadon, pale watery transparent pale blue-green, low gloss, medium crystalline crackle (according to March classification), pooled off-center in bottom, running thin on rim and center bottom. (The gray body showing through gives a grayish surface appearance), runs unevenly onto foot.
Decoration: incised and carved. Triple lines define rim shape; cavetto has an upper decorated band and a plain zone; a deep double line surrounds the bottom which has a central floral medallion. Outside, multiple rings edge the cavetto curve, top and bottom. Deep vertical grooves give the appearance of fluting.

Label

The transparent, blue-green glaze on this dish characterizes celadon made at the major Thai kiln center of Sawankhalok (Si Satchanalai).  Its form and decoration show awareness of Yuan dynasty (1279–1368) Longquan celadon. Exported in large quantities, such dishes competed with Longquan celadon in the markets in insular Southeast Asia during the fifteenth centuries.

Published References
  • Louise Allison Cort, George Williams, David P. Rehfuss. Ceramics in Mainland Southeast Asia. Washington. .
  • Roxanna M. Brown, Sten Sjostrand. Maritime Archaeology and Shipwreck Ceramics in Malaysia. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. .
Collection Area(s)
Southeast Asian Art
Web Resources
Ceramics in Mainland Southeast Asia
Google Cultural Institute
F|S Southeast Asia
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