Pre-Khmer Pottery Pouring Vessel (Kendi)

Pre-Khmer Empire, c. 200-700 AD, Cambodia

A significant and highly refined Pre-Khmer pouring vessel, or kendi, dating from 200-700 AD, crafted in Cambodia before the rise of the Khmer Empire (802-1431 AD).

This unglazed vessel embodies a form that became ubiquitous across Southeast Asia, originating from Indian traders who settled in the region—then known as the "Land of Gold"—between 100-400 AD. The kendi’s distinctive shape, with its rounded body, straight neck, and angled spout, was specifically designed for graceful pouring, allowing liquid to be poured directly into the drinker’s mouth from a height.

This large, finely crafted vessel, made of red pottery, features a wide, globular body, a narrow, round, flat-bottomed foot, and a short, tapering neck leading to a wide, everted mouth with a slightly raised rim. A single spout gracefully emerges from the shoulder. Delicate painted rosettes adorn the rim, neck, and shoulder, accompanied by parallel red and white lines, highlighting the artisan’s skill and decorative refinement.

The Khmer Empire, one of Southeast Asia's most powerful civilizations, would later rise to prominence, leaving behind monumental architectural achievements such as Angkor Wat and Bayon. However, long before this, the Mekong Delta region was already home to sophisticated ceramic traditions, as seen in excavations from sites like Angkor Borei, the inland capital of Funan, and the port city of Oc Eo.

This early Pre-Khmer kendi is a testament to the region’s artistic and cultural connections, bridging Indian influences with emerging Southeast Asian traditions, and stands as a remarkable example of early Cambodian craftsmanship.

Excellent condition. Intact. Age-related wear and abrasion with a minimal scratches on surface. Small chip in the foot ring. The body has an attractive and subtle pattern from root marks and soil encrustations from centuries of burial. Size approx. 23,0cm x 19,0cm x 21,0cm.  

Provenance: Finnish private collection.

For a similar examples see:

Kendi, Minneapolis Institute of Art, Accession number: 2001.31.5 (https://collections.artsmia.org/art/45818/kendi-cambodia)

Kendi, Roots, Asian Civilisations Museum, Accession number: 2011-02071 (https://www.roots.gov.sg/en/collection%20landing/listing/1120096)

Khmer Ceramics: Beauty and Meaning, Dawn Rooney, River Books Press Dist A C, 2010, pp. 178-179.

References and further reading:

Kendi in the Cultural Context of Southeast Asia, A Commentary, Dawn F. Rooney. (http://rooneyarchive.net/articles/kendi/kendi_album/kendi.htm)

The Khmer Empire, Rodrigo Quijada Plubins, World History Encyclopedia, 12 March 2013. (https://www.worldhistory.org/Khmer_Empire/)

The Kendi: The Long Journey of a Little Water Vessel, Margaret White, Passage, May/June 2018.