Thai San Kamphaeng Grayish Green Glazed Stoneware Bowl

Lanna Kingdom period, 13th to early 16th century, San Kamphaeng kilns, Chiang Mai, Northern Thailand.

Fabulous hand-thrown, high fired stoneware bowl from the San Kamphaeng kilns in the Chiang Mai province, Northern Thailand. The lightweight bowl is made of a coarse clay with pale grayish green ash glaze, embellished with fine encircling lines and a slightly raised everted rim. The rim is unglazed due to the face-firing characteristic of this kiln.

Discovered as late as in the 1952 by the Thai archaeologist Kraisri Nimmananhaeminda, the San Kamphaeng kilns were located on the overland trade route connecting Chiang Mai, Lamphun, and Lampang, in the Sankamphaeng district (amphoe). The ceramics were made in small cross-draft kilns measuring 2 to 4 meters, and were partly sunken in the ground. Although 83 kilns were discovered in the area, only seven had been excavated by 1970. The general visual characteristics of Sankamphaeng ware was a coarse clay, low footrim, a white slip painted on the mouth rim and on the interior before glazing or decorating. Typical colors of these ceramics range from buff, cream to light brown and from pale green to greyish black. The most popular decorative design, which became typical of San Kamphaeng ware, was that of stamped twin fish motifs, similar to the Chinese Yin and Yang symbol, swimming on the bottom. The export of both Thai and Vietnamese ceramics experienced a surge when the Chinese imperial court placed a ban on foreign export during the Ming period (Ming Ban 1, 1371-1509), leaving a gap to be filled.

Excellent condition. Age-related minor wear. Hairlines on glazing. Glazing defects and firing flaws. Lovely crackling and discolouring. Size approx. 27,4cm x 27,7cm x 5,7cm. 

Provenance: Swedish private collection

For a similar examples see:

Bowl with incised decoration, Art Gallery of NSW, Accession number: 220.2006 (https://www.artgallery.nsw.gov.au/collection/works/220.2006/)

Dish, Asian Civilisations Museum, Roots, National Heritage Board, Accession number: C-1558 (https://www.roots.gov.sg/Collection-Landing/listing/1086306)

References and further reading:

Sankampaeng glazed pottery, Kraisri Nimmanahaeminda, Chiang Mai, Sun Nangsu Chiang Mai, 2526, 1983.

Sankampaeng, Southeast Asian Ceramic Society (SEACS). (https://www.seaceramic.org.sg/)

Thai ceramics, National Museums Scotland.

The ceramics of southeast Asia: Thei dating and identification (2nd ed.), R.M. Brown, Singapore, Singapore: Oxford Univesity Press, 1988.

A Field Guide to Glazed Thai Ceramics, Dawn F. Rooney, Asian Perspectives, Vol 28. No 2, pp. 125-144, University of Hawai'i Press, 1988-89.