Thai Sawankhalok Earthenware Kendi

Sukhothai Kingdom or Early Ayutthaya Period, c. 1300–1400 AD, Si Satchanalai, Sawankhalok Kilns, Sukhothai Province, Thailand

A superb example of early Southeast Asian ceramic artistry, this unglazed red-brown earthenware kendi was expertly wheel-thrown and burnished to a soft sheen. Of classic globular form, it features a mammiform spout, a tall flanged neck for grip, a delicately splayed foot, and a subtly carved underside—characteristic of fine pieces from the renowned Sawankhalok kilns of Si Satchanalai.

The term kendi comes from the Malay word for this form, which in turn is derived from the Sanskrit ‘kundika’, a ritual vessel associated with purification. The shape is instantly recognizable: a rounded body, elongated neck used for grasping, and a side spout for pouring. This form, though humble in material, is steeped in history and spiritual significance. Its origins are linked to Hindu-Buddhist ritual use in India, later spreading across Southeast Asia through religious and cultural exchange.

Kendi vessels served a variety of roles—used for drinking, pouring, and in ceremonial contexts such as weddings, temple offerings, and rites of purification. Their enduring presence across the region for over a millennium is evidenced not only by surviving artifacts but by depictions on 9th-century temple reliefs and widespread trade networks. Thai potters adapted and refined the form, creating both glazed and unglazed versions that found eager markets domestically and abroad.

This particular kendi, with its warm, earthy tone and elegant proportions, is more than a utilitarian object—it reflects the spiritual and artistic currents of a richly cosmopolitan period in Southeast Asian history, and speaks to Thailand’s central role in the region’s vibrant ceramic and cultural trade.

Good condition. Small chip in the spout, otherwise intact. Surface wear and abrasions commensurate with age and use, with encrusted patina and rich earthen deposits throughout. Size approx. 13,2cm x 10,9cm x 10,9cm.

Provenance: Collection of Sten Sjøstrand.

For a similar examples see:

Kendi, The Brooklyn Museum, Accession Number: 80.270.1 (https://www.brooklynmuseum.org/en-GB/objects/107686)