Ceramics from

With price guide by Vincent McCarthy

Thailand is fast becoming a favourite long museum on the outskirts of the city, with a Of particular interest from the Sukothai region haul destination for British holidaymakers. couple of reconstructed ancient kilns we find a range of small animal and bird This is not surprising as there are so many in the grounds. Very interesting for lovers of figurines. Generally in a variety of coloured good things in it’s favour. The weather is ceramics. Chiang Mai is a good centre for glazes and dating from the fifteenth generally fine with mostly warm sunny days trekking into the forest to see lots of elephants and sixteenth centuries. I have seen oxen, during the October to May high season. Hotels at work and play and perhaps to visit some of cows, elephants, frogs, chickens and ducks and guest houses offer cheerful service at a the hill tribes, including the long necked amongst other farm animals and wildlife. The very modest cost. Restaurants and bars Karen. national museum feels that these were for provide a good range of international cuisine The golden age of Thai ceramics was the ritual or decorative uses; but adds that there is at sensible prices. And best of all are the Thai period from around the fourteenth to the also thought that some may be children’s toys. people who really do smile a lot of the time. sixteenth centuries. It may be more than a These little figures are very attractive and fit Most European holidaymakers spend a few coincidence that this was around the time nicely into modern display cabinets they are days in before heading south to the when the Ming emperor banned Chinese also not hard on the pocket, ranging from £60 white sandy beaches of Phuket or Krabi. potters from exporting their wares, thus to £95 each. A particularly intriguing type is However the capital doesn’t deserve to be sending many into exile in Vietnam and the seated female figure depicted suckling a abandonded so readily. Bangkok is a vibrant Thailand. The fine celadon glazes found at this child or possibly a chicken, which is city, full of teeming life. Walk in a street and time are very similar to the best of the Sung considered to bring luck in Thai folklore. your ears are assailed by the staccato rattle of dynasty wares. The old Lanna were These little pieces have a certain naïve appeal tuk tuks; your nostrils by a heady mix of centred around Kalong in the far north. This and are very collectable and therefore are not freshly cooked food, incense, flowers and region had perfect clay for fine ceramics with particularly cheap. Intact pieces can be bought petrol fumes. There are a great many temples the added advantage of rivers flowing north for around £100 to £150 each. A couple of in the city, mostly Buddhist but a few Hindu, and south making transport easy. During this examples are illustrated in this article (see fig offering an oasis of calm amidst the bustle. golden age, the Lanna potters produced 9 and 12). Many have very fine wall paintings illustrating impressive table wares such as plates, bowls In eastern Thailand near the border with Thailand’s history, along with images of the and bottles with pale green or cream coloured Cambodia there have been finds of Khmer Buddha in all of his guises and are well worth slips, often decorated with flowers, fish and pottery, especially cream or brown glazed a look. Lovers of Ceramics will find a good animals. Most of the output of the kilns was bowls or jars and pots of unusual form such as selection of local wares for sale in the local for domestic articles and the range and quality rabbits or frogs. The main Khmer kilns were markets, the range of shapes and colours is would seem to indicate a society that cared active near Angkor but also at Pi Mai in amazing. Collectors of more ancient pots can about food and drink. Collectors will be able modern Thailand. In the north and west of the find a good range on display at the Museum - to buy examples of these wares from £50 to country, Burmese ceramics are commonly quite close to the Grand Palace and Wat Po £125 each in good condition. found, often at burial sites within the Thai temple - so easily included in a day’s sight- Collectors who are interested in modern border. They often cosist of stoneware plates seeing. ceramics will find some very attractive and dishes of similar shape and decoration to It is only in recent years that Thai ceramics examples in the better gift shops and stores, the Kalong wares but with a distinctive green have begun to be appreciated in their right, especially in Chiang Mai and Bangkok. The decoration. These are easy to spot in the rather than as an offshoot from the better range of subtle coloured glazes and imagi- markets: bright green fishes or plants will known Chinese industries. The origins of Thai native forms proves that the Thai potters have almost certainly be of Burmese origin. Prices pottery making goes back to before three lost none of their ancient skills. Bangkok is are about the same as for Kalong wares, thousand BC, almost as old as that of China. only a few hundred years old but there are around £60 to £150 depending on size and Burials and kilns have been excavated at Ban more ancient cities to the north such as condition. Chiang dating back to these times and indicate Ayutthaya and Sukhothai which are worthy of In earler times the ‘Grand Tour’ took in a highly developed society in the north east a visit. These were the capitals of the old Thai Mediterranean Europe and the Middle East. region of Thailand. During the early years of kingdoms and also centres of the pottery Today western travellers have discovered it’s history, Thailand was peopled by the Mon industries. Pieces can sometimes be found in South East Asia and in this region Thailand is and the Khmer from neighbouring Burma and local shops and markets and if you are skilled possibly the most visited country. Given that Cambodia. They lived and worked in Thailand at haggling, you may well walk away with a the culture and artefacts of a popular tourist producing ceramics up until the eleventh or bargain or two. The most prolific period for desination tend to collected, even if only as twelfth century. Pottery from these times can these kilns was from the fourteenth to seven- souvenirs, the future of Thai ceramics seems be found today, especially near the respective teenth centuries. A wide range of domestic and assured. west and eastern borders of the country. If you ritual vessels were made, generally for the can tear yourself away from the beaches, the local markets as they are not often found Vincent McCarthy is currently gathering infor- ancient city of Chiang Mai is well worth a outside their respective regions. Plates and mation on the availabilty of Thai ceramics in visit. This is the capital of the old Lanna dishes, bottles and water pots abound, often the UK to help collectors wishing to buy Kingdom with a full mooted defence system with rich glazes of cream, green or brown. pieces For further information, please contact and remains of old city walls. The city itself is Once again examples can be bought by him by telephone on 01202 310356, text on easy to walk around and has the usual sprin- collectors for anything up to £60 to £70 for 0777 994 5878, or alternatively you can e-mail kling of temples, a lively night market and simple pots or bowls. More exotic or well Vincent at: [email protected]. pleasant parks. There is a bright, modern decorated pieces will cost around double this. ANTIQUES INFO - March/April 05 A pair of ceramic cockerel figurines. 15th- 16th C. £60 ea.

A cream and green glazed rabbit candle holder. Sukhothai c.16th C. Rare. £95.

A Kalong stoneware dish with leaf A cream glazed cockerel for a candle or decoration. 15th C. £125. incense stick. 16th-17th C. £75.

A glazed water vessel with head and tail of a A Kalong ceramic dish with floral motif. bird on neck. Sukhothai c.15thC. £75. c.15th-16th C. £125. A pair of celadon green glazed women; one suckling a child. 15th-16th C. £125 ea.

A green glazed plate with fish motif. Kalong A circular lidded box with bird knop. 15th C. £125. Sawankaloke c.14th-15th C. £75.

A lime pot in the form of an elephant. Sukhothai c.15th C. £135.

A pair of glazed figurines of oxen. Sukhothai c.15th-16th C. £75 ea.

An unusual brown ware pot with twin A glazed bottle with mythical creature. A Group of Kalong vessels with black headed duck decoration. Sukhothai c.15th- Kalon ware. c.15th-16th C. £135. underglaze, c.16th C. £50, £45, £30. 16th cent. £55.

ANTIQUES INFO - March/April 05