SEACS' FIRST 50 YEARS

THE SOUTHEAST ASIAN CERAMIC SOCIETY 1969-2019

BY PATRICIA BJAALAND WELCH, PRESIDENT 2017-2010 WHY STUDY OR COLLECT CERAMICS?

For archaeologists, anthropologists, and historians, the study of ceramics can help to provide an insight into past cultures because of the durable nature of pottery. Fragments can survive long after other artefacts made from less-durable materials have decayed beyond recognition. Combined with other evidence, the study of ceramic artefacts can help us gain insight into the organisation, as well as the economic, cultural, religious and social conditions of past societies. Where these ancient societies did not have writing systems and therefore written records of their history, chronologies based on pottery are helpful for dating their histories. Furthermore, chemical analyses of trace elements in ceramic fragments can help identify sources of clay and glazes, hence the networks of trade and communication that linked neighbouring cultures.

http://www.museum.seaceramic.org.sg SEACS' FIRST 50 YEARS

THE SOUTHEAST ASIAN CERAMIC SOCIETY 1969-2019 “The ‘iconic’ photograph of William Willetts, dressed in his trademark oversized white short- sleeve short kuta and loose fitting white cotton drill shorts otherwise known as ‘Bombay Bloomers’.” – Kwa Chong Guan

WILLIAM WILLETTS (1918-1995) Kwa William Chong Ng Seng Willetts Guan Leong

WILLIAM WILLETTS (1918-1995) March 1934 Helen, TG and son James

The Melchior Collection (4 volumes) MRS. HELEN LING – (b. 1901) The Lings’ bungalow in the Cameron Highlands of Malaya – ‘Moonight’

MRS. HELEN LING – SEACS’ FIRST PRESIDENT Qingbai ware bowl with S. Song Dynasty (13C) molded decoration. Qingbai porcelain

Provenance: ? – J. E. Melchior Collection, Shanghai Helen Dalling Ling (d. 1982) Mr. Tien Gi Ling (bequest) Purchased Freer Gallery 1984

“We had no inkling of the collection. It was the sort of event for which museum directors always hope. A relative of the owner [Helen Ling’s husband] called and asked us to come out to the suburbs to see the collection. Nine hundred out of a thousand times, when people invite us out to see objects, the collection is not unusual. But when we saw these ceramics, we were staggered.” - Sarah Booth, “The Freer’s Rare Catch: Gallery Acquires 30 Flawless Ancient Chinese Ceramics” - The Washington Post, 23 May 1984, p. B2.

THE FREER GALLERY – THE MELCHIOR COLLECTION VIA HELEN LING The Ming Dynasty Emperor (Chenghua)’s ‘chicken cup’ that sold for HK$36.05m. Only four are in private collections. The Zuelligs bought it for HK$29m in 1999.

Dr. Stephen & Dr. Gilbert Zuellig (Photo courtesy of Secretariat Zuellig)

OTHER FOUNDING MEMBERS: THE ZUELLIG BROTHERS THE MEIYINTANG COLLECTION Mrs. Pamela Hickley

Mr. George C. Cook Mrs. Jo Rutter Dr. Earl Lu (1925-2005) Don Sinclair (1926-87) Mr. K. T. Goh Mr. C. K. Sng Photo courtesy of Wei Sinclair Ngo Mr. Frank Hickley Mrs. Lu Sinclair Mrs. Pamela Hickley Mr. Don Sinclair Mrs. Helen Ling Mr. William Willetts Mrs Norma Lu Mr. Y H. (Mathew) Wong Mrs. Margaretha Ratnam Mr. Adrian Zecha Mr. Trevor Rutter Overseas Member: Mr. H. F. Goldstein

Names in red served as early Presidents THE FOUNDING MEMBERS Ceramic Art of Southeast Asia by William Willetts. Singapore: ❶ Southeast Asian Ceramic Society, 1971 (reprinted 1973 and 1976). 194 pp; colour and black and white plates.

Introduction and descriptive notes by William Willetts

CERAMIC ART OF SOUTHEAST ASIA SEACS first exhibition Benjamin Sheares (1907-1981)

SOUTHEAST ASIAN CERAMICS: JUNE 15 – JULY, 1971 Catalogue item 162 Willets’ description:

“The flattened mouthrim [sic] painted in underglaze iron-black with two interrupted decorative bands; the inside wall laid with a cream slip; the cavetto with a fruiting vegetal scroll in iron-black, and the centre medallion with a fish; 5 spur-marks are partly concealed by the mottled body of the fish; all covered by a somewhat opaque milky-white glaze giving a lustred appearance; the outside wall slipped and glazed, and with 2 iron- black decorative bands; the carved foot with a light grey-brown biscuit containing whitish granules.”

D. 27 cm. The University of Singapore collection.

CERAMIC ART OF SOUTHEAST ASIA “Clues are parse and the expert learns through trial and error. The age of a piece is never a reliable guide, especially with pieces found in burial sites. It’s important to look at assemblages of wares rather than individual pieces for clues to the sequence of trade and porcelain products coming into the area. A lot of ceramic wares were moved around by Mohammedan traders.” Barbara Harrisson recording one of - Barbara Harrison the Neolithic burials in the early 1960s in Sarawak. BARBARA HARRISON Barbara Harrisson and Sarawak friend

Barbara Harrisson recording one of the Neolithic burials in the early 1960s in Sarawak. DR. BARBARA GUTTLER BRUNIG HARRISSON (1922-2015) New Nation, 8 January 1973, p. 4 The perfume jar of globular form with a flanged, everted mouth and cover with recessed knob (exhibition item #7) singled out by G. S. Cook in the Introduction, on loan from Helen Ling

Examples of the ‘Marco Polo’ (late Song/early Yuan) dehua described by Willetts in the catalogue

CHINESE WHITE WARES, JANUARY 1973 Chinese White Wares Singapore: Southeast Asian Ceramic ❷ Society. 1973. 370 pages, 167 black and white plates illustrating 167 pieces. Almost all came from South China covering Tang to the 18C with a few northern Chinese wares included as contrast.

• With an introduction by G. S. Cook, • A note on ‘Marco Polo’ by William Willetts, • Descriptive notes by G. S. Cook, Frank Hickley and Don F. H. Sinclair

CHINESE WHITE WARES SOAME JENYNS (1904-1976) SPEAKS TO THE SOCIETY – FEBRUARY 1974

• He urged SEACS to study Annamese ceramics, visiting kiln sites and collating the information, emphasizing the need for more ‘spade work’. Our geographic location, he argued, put us in the position of being able to make a significant contribution to Southeast Asian ceramics. “True knowledge,” he told us, “is obtained from long and patient research into documentary evidence and local survey.” Chinese Blue & White Ceramics Compiled by Seng Teck Yeo and Jean ❸ Martin. Singapore: Southeast Asian Ceramic Society, and Arts Orientalis, 1978. 315 pp, over 230 colour plates

Including: • “Chinese Blue and White Ceramics: A Brief Introduction” – S. T. Yeo and Jean Martin • “Some Highlights of Chinese Blue and White” – Lu Yaw • “Chinese Blue and White Porcelain and its Place in the Maritime Trade of China” – Grace Wong • Index of Terms, Decorations and Table of reign marks

CHINESE BLUE & WHITE CERAMICS (APRIL 1978) S. R. “Bill” Parker, 1960

Straits Times 23 June 1979

CELADON CERAMICS: JUNE 23-JULY 22, 1979 Chinese Celadons and Other Related Wares in Southeast Asia Singapore: Southeast Asian Ceramic Society ❹ & Arts Orientalis, 1979. 312 pp, 294 colour plates. Includes seven articles: • “Introduction” – Lu Yaw • “Celadon” - William Willetts • “Sinian Relics – A Summary” – Malcolm V. Quie • “A Note on Celadon Wares from Sinan” – John Ayers • “Celadon and Other Related Wares Excavated in Sarawak” – S. R. Parker • “Distribution of Chinese and Siamese Ceramics in Brunei” – Dato P. M . Shariffuddin and Matussin Omar • “Tributary Trade between China and Southeast Asia in the Song Dynasty” – Grace Wong

Plus bibliography, notes, and a list of members CHINESE CELADONS AND OTHER RELATED WARES IN SOUTHEAST ASIA Maternity Figurines Covered with celadon glaze of varying tones 10-13 cm, 14-15C Sawankalok, Thailand

On loan from the collections of Mr. & Mrs. Frank Hickley, Mrs. B. Sehnert, & Mr. and Mrs. Wim Irik

Figurines Woman holding a fan, amorous couple, mother and child

On loan from the collection of: Mr. & Mrs. Earl L

From the catalogue, pp. 300-301

CELADON CERAMICS: JUNE 23-JULY 22, 1979 Chinese Celadons and Other Related Wares in Southeast Asia Singapore: Southeast Asian Ceramic Society ❹ & Arts Orientalis, 1979. 312 pp, 294 colour plates. Includes seven articles: • “Introduction” – Lu Yaw • “Celadon” - William Willetts • “Sinian Relics – A Summary” – Malcolm V. Quie • “A Note on Celadon Wares from Sinan” – John Ayers • “Celadon and Other Related Wares Excavated in Sarawak” – S. R. Parker • “Distribution of Chinese and Siamese Ceramics in Brunei” – Dato P. M . Shariffuddin and Matussin Omar • “Tributary Trade between China and Southeast Asia in the Song Dynasty” – Grace Wong

Plus bibliography, notes, and a list of members CHINESE CELADONS AND OTHER RELATED WARES IN SOUTHEAST ASIA Travel photo ?? S. R. “Bill” Parker, 1960

Straits Times 23 June 1979 CELADON CERAMICS: JUNE 23-JULY 22, 1979 1981 Straits Times, 6 March 1981, p. 3 Christopher Hooi, (Curator of Anthropology) and Director of the National Museum:

“[Khmer ceramics] have not been collected by many people in this part of the world [so] we are fortunate that from among our friends, two museums in Malaysia and the members of SEACS, we have been able to select a collection of exhibits representative of Khmer ceramic art from the late 9th to 14th century.”

Photo, Ministry of Information and the Arts Collection, courtesy of the National Archives of Singapore

KHMER CERAMICS: MARCH 7-31, 1981 ❺ Khmer Ceramics 9th-14th Century. Dina Stock, ed. Singapore: Southeast Asian Ceramic Society, 1981. 140 pp., 106 plates, 1 map.

Four articles: • “Introduction to the Ceramic Wares of Angkor” – Bernard P[hilippe] Groslier • “Khmer Ceramics of the Korat Plateau: Unravelling the Mysteries” – Roxanna Brown • “Use of Khmer Ceramics” – Dawn Rooney • “The History of the Khmers” – Rt. Hon. Malcolm MacDonald, O.M.

KHMER CERAMICS “He liked pretty women just as he liked fine ceramics.”

He also held “unconventional working hours. He would work in the morning, rest after lunch, slip off to the Singapore shops to look at jade or ceramics, have an evening drink … and then go back to work again.” (p. 320)

Clyde Sanger, Malcolm MacDonald: Bringing an End to Empire. McGill-Queen’s Press, 1995.

Malcolm Macdonald saying goodbye to Singapore after nine years (1955).

Courtesy Singapore Press Holdings, compliments of the National Archives of Singapore

MALCOLM MACDONALD ❺

Khmer Ceramics 9th-14th Century. Dina Stock, ed. Singapore: Southeast Asian Ceramic Society, 1981. 140 pp., 106 plates, 1 map.

Four articles: • “Introduction to the Ceramic Wares of Angkor” – Bernard P[hilippe] Groslier • “Khmer Ceramics of the Korat Plateau: Unravelling the Mysteries” – Roxanna Brown • “Use of Khmer Ceramics” – Dawn Rooney • “The History of the Khmers” – Rt. Hon. Malcolm MacDonald, O.M.

KHMER CERAMICS A Chinese man is seated drinking cup (of tea?); there is a small covered pot on the low table in front of him.

Bayon, ca. 1200 External gallery, SE pavilion ‘HOUSE OF THE CHINESE MAN’ - BAYON Khmer lime pots from the exhibition, late 12-13C Khmer jars and jarlets, late 11-13C ROXANNA BROWN – DAWN ROONEY DAWN ROONEY VIETNAMESE CERAMICS: JUNE 1982 Vietnamese Ceramics. Carol M. Young, Marie-France Dupoizat, and Elizabeth ❻ W. Land, eds. Southeast Asian Ceramic Society, 1982. ix+181 pp.; 6 articles, illustrated catalog. Distributed by Oxford University Press, 3 Jalan 13/3 Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia.

Six articles: • “Bridges: Internal and External Formal Relationships in Vietnamese Ceramics of the 11th-16th Centuries’ – William Willetts • “A Brief Summary of Vietnamese History” – K. W. Taylor • “Comment on the Vietnamese-Thai Connection” – John C. Shaw • “Vietnamese Trade Ceramics” – John Guy • “Notes on the Wall Tiles of the Mosque at Demak” – Abu Ridho • “Correlations and Types of Vietnamese Trade Wares: 13th-19th Centuries” – Dr. Barbara Harrisson

VIETNAMESE CERAMICS ❻

Keith Taylor today & publications Six articles: • “Bridges: Internal and External Formal Relationships in Vietnamese Ceramics of the 11th-16th Centuries’ – William Willetts • “A Brief Summary of Vietnamese History” – Keith Weller Taylor • “Comment on the Vietnamese-Thai Connection” – John C. Shaw • “Vietnamese Trade Ceramics” – John Guy • “Notes on the Wall Tiles of the Mosque at Demak” – Abu Ridho • “Correlations and Types of Vietnamese Trade Some works by Abu Ridho Wares: 13th-19th Centuries” – Barbara Harrisson John C. Shaw

VIETNAMESE CERAMICS SONG CERAMICS: MAY 27 – JUNE 20, 1983 Dr. Earl Lu Life member, SEACS President 1984-87

THE EARL LU GALLERY – LASALLE-SIA Song Ceramics. Lu Yaw, ed. ❼ Southeast Asian Ceramic Society, 1983. Three articles: • “Movement of Styles in Ceramics in the Song Dynasty” – Mary Treg ea r • “Some Problems Concerning the Development of Song Ceramics” – Feng Xianming, translated by Lu Yaw • “Introduction” – Lu Yaw

Mr. Lu Yaw. Straits Times, 11 June 1983, p. 4. Courtesy of NewspapersSG SONG CERAMICS Han earthenware pigsty with latrine, Ms. Aileen Tan-Boon Collection, on loan to Spirit of Han exhibition

Han earthenware dancer, Mr. & Mrs. Amir Mallal collection, on loan to Spirit of Han exhibition

E. Han ceramic ladles, Ivan Polunin collection, on loan to Spirit of Han exhibition

SPIRIT OF HAN, 1991 Spirit of Han: Ceramics for the After-Life Aileen Lau, Editor. Singapore: Southeast Asian Ceramic Society ❽ and London: SunTree, 1991. 190 pp. ISBN: 981-00-2961-6

Text contribution: • “Providing for Life in the Other World” by Lu Yaw • “Han Dynasty China” by Chi-yun Chen • “Han Dynasty Ceramics in Indonesia” by Abu Ridho • “Mingqi and other Tomb Furnishings as Reflections of Han Culture and Society” = Eng-Lee Seok Chee • “The Interchange of Motifs and the Development of Realism in the Decorative Arts of the Han” – Rosemary E. Scott • “Tall Pottery Towers and their Archaeological Contexts” – Candace J. Lewis • “The Splendour of Han Pottery” – Chen Huasha

Captions by Englee Seok L-Chee, Kenson Kwok, John Miksic, LiseYoung Lai

SPIRIT OF HAN CERAMICS IN SCHOLARLY TASTE EXHIBITION, 6 NOV-5 DEC 1993 CERAMICS IN SCHOLARLY TASTE EXHIBITION, 6 NOV-5 DEC 1993 CERAMICS IN SCHOLARLY TASTE EXHIBITION, 6 NOV-5 DEC 1993 ❾

Ceramics in Scholarly Taste. Catalogue by Maura Rinaldi. Edited by Aileen Lau Foreword by Kwa Chong Guan Preface by LiseYoung Lai, President, SEACS Introduction by Eng-Lee Seok Chee. Published on the occasion of the Exhibition in 1993. Singapore: Southeast Asian Ceramic Society & Sun Tree Publishing, 1993. 151 pp. ISBN: 981-00-4395-3

CERAMICS IN SCHOLARLY TASTE Southeast Asian Ceramics: New Light on Old Pottery John N. Miksic, Editor. 10 Singapore: Southeast Asian Ceramic Society Editions Didier Millet 2009. 176 pp. ISBN: 978-981-4260-13-8

Text contribution: • “Introduction: The SEACS and the NUS Museum” – John N. Miksic • “New Light on Old Pottery: The Founding of SEACS” – Pamela M. Watkins • “The Contributions of Roxanna Brown to the Study of Southeast Asian Ceramics” – Dawn F. Rooney • “Maritime Archaeology in Southeast Asia” – Michael Flecker • “Kilns of Southeast Asia” – John N. Miksic • “Research on Ceramic Trade, within Southeast Asia and between Southeast Asia and China” – John N. Miksic

NEW LIGHT ON OLD CERAMICS 11

An Angkor Roundabout: Being a five-day tour of the main monuments at Angkor in Cambodia described in the order in which they were built By William Willetts (unfinished manuscript, 1970s) Edited by Kwa Chong Guan and Dawn F. Rooney Singapore: Southeast Asian Ceramic Society, 2017. 142 pp. ISBN: 978-981-11-4290-1

AN ANGKOR ROUNDABOUT: AN UNFINISHED MANUSCRIPT BECOMES AN E-BOOK 1112 AVAILABLE ONLINE AS DOWNLOADABLE E-BOOKS: www.seaceramic.org.sg THE OCLC WORLD CATALOGUE’S TIMELINE OF OUR PUBLICATIONS MEMBERS CONTINUE TO BE ACTIVELY ENGAGED… Zwindler Museum Maura Rinaldi – The Dresden Porcelain Project

Cora Würmell Maura Rinaldi

Peeking through a basement window into the basement storage rooms MEMBERS CONTINUE TO BE ACTIVELY ENGAGED… …as active volunteer docents, educators, trainers – training the next generation, engaging the public

Recent Member speakers: Professor John Miksic Gretchen Liu Prof. Geok Yian Goh Kwa Chong Guan Dr. Wang Gungwu Dr. Mike Flecker Dr. Vidya Schalk Prof. Leonard Andaya Dr. Kenson Kwok Prof. Barbara Andaya Patricia Welch in the T. S . Loh Ta r a Manser Scholars’ Gallery, Pimpraphai Bisalputra, Foo Su Ling Elizabeth Moore ACM, overall co-head board member, Adrian Vickers Kyle Latinis of docent training, Siam Society Alex Giang (Do Truong Giang) Maura Rinaldi FOM; author, speaker, (collector, author) writer Pauline Ong, Alvin Chia, NMS/ACM guide, Belitung ‘caretaker’ NHB award winner Sentosa Corporation GIFTS ARE MADE BY THEM OR IN THEIR NAME

ACM Dehua Collection - Gift of Frank & Pamela Hickley, long-term members of SEACS 3rd floor Chinese ceramics gallery, Asian Civilisations Museum GIFTS ARE MADE BY THEM OR IN THEIR NAME

ACM Collection 18C Chinese painted enamel on copper plate

Gift of the Eng family in memory of Madame Eng-Lee Seok Chee, former curator, National Museum and very active member of the Southeast Asian Ceramic Society GIFTS ARE MADE BY THEM OR IN THEIR NAME

Gifted the ACM Collection by former SEACS President Earl Lu (President 1984 -1987) RESOURCES ARE GIFTED

Joseph Needham, the full set of Science and Civilisation in China – gifted to the Siam Society by a member – value: $20,000+ “For those who have taken the plunge into fascination with Southeast Asian ceramics, private debate over their history is an exciting unending discourse.” - Roxanna Brown, SEACS member and renowned ceramics expert & author. (1946-2008)