Globular jar

Collections
1086249
Title
Globular jar
Year/Period
14th-16th centuries
Region
Sawankhalok, Thailand
Object Type
Dimension
Object size: H16.0 x Dia4.0 x Cir48.0 cm
Accession No.
C-1610
Credit Line
Gift of Dr Earl Lu

This jar of squat globular form has a narrow, short neck with ring handles. It is decorated with incised bands of lines on the shoulder and vertical ribs on the lower body. The jar is covered in a translucent pale-green celadon glaze, which stops short just above the foot, showing a white base. Greenware was one of the main products of the Sawankhalok kilns. It was very similar to Chinese celadons of the Longquan kilns in Zhejiang province.Celadon is a French term taken from the character of a shepherd in a 17th century play, who wore a green costume.The term refers to green-glazed wares, where naturally occurring iron oxide reacts to the lack of oxygen during firing in the glaze by turning green. Green-glazed wares in Thailand were probably introduced from China during the early 14th century.The royal cities of Sukhothai and Si Satchanalai in north-central Thailand were at the heart of one of the largest ceramic-producing centres in Southeast Asia during the 14th century. Si Satchanalai, which was later renamed Sawankhalok, came to refer to ceramics that originated from either of these two areas.

See related items