An Annamese Covered Paste Jar

I am indeed grateful that the Philippines has no prior ceramic industry or else every piece of blue & white ware would become suspect of  being fake.  Hence, the chances of getting a fake export ceramic here in the province of Montemayor is minimal. So, whatever you find in your dealers' shops is most likely real diggings.

This one was acquired by one of my dealers and I've seen this languishing at the shop's curio cabinet for quite some time.  So, I've decided to haggle with my dealer.  Due to the blue-green restored area at the rim, my dealer gave it away for a very nice price.

Pictured above is my find. It is an Annamese blue and white covered box in a circular form with a flattened cover. It has a white stoneware crackled body decorated in cobalt blue underglaze with vegetal and geometrical patterns.  The box is glazed on the inside but has an unglazed interior on the foot. Unfortunately, a significant are on the rim has been "restored."  I hate that concept.  It dates to the 15th century, late Tran dynasty to Early Le dynasty. Usually these are only found in blue and white.  


According to Encarta,  " The area of South East Asia which is now North Vietnam played a significant part in porcelain production from the 14th to the 17th centuries, thanks to abundant supplies of feldspar and kaolin near Hanoi. The Annamese were using cobalt as early as the Chinese (14th century) and fine blue-and-white decorated porcelains were produced in Tho-ha and Bat Trang. The earlier wares closely imitated Chinese, but distinctive characteristics of decoration as well as potting technique had emerged by the 15th century when the best Annamese porcelains were produced. Among the distinctive Annamese products were circular covered boxes, and water droppers in the form of animals."


Due to the "restoration", I acquired this for $12. Happy antiquing!

Ruminations on a Celadon Plate

Celadon for me is a special class of antique ceramics. I find them extra special and desirable. Of course having Ming vases and Qing ceramics are the epitome of collecting, Celadons on the other hand are more accessible, more pedestrian, more humble. But from my readings, their prices are not humble at all.  They are fast becoming, or rather, is already the darling of Chinese export wares here in South East Asia.

These Northern and Southern Song dynasty and Yuan dynasty wares reflect the rich trading history between China and the surrounding Southeast Asian Kingdoms.  This is the main reason why there are a lot of specimens found among the grave pottery here in the Philippines and Indonesia. (Thank our ancestors' practice of burying everything along with their dead.)

This nice little plate was first seen in the same curio cabinet case (a.k.a. platera) as those of the previous entries.  From my research, it is similar to Longquan celadon from the late Yuan dynasty probably 14th -15th century. It has the same lotus-designed incise marks and the same olive green color.  I was thankful that apart from minor surface scratches, this was a perfect specimen.  Although not as heavily designed as those seen in more expensive Celadons, this one for me is perfect- it's cheap and in excellent condition.

More examples of Longquan celadon ware can be seen at the Koh Antique Site.

Acquired for: $19-
Happy Antiquing!

My Annamese Jarlet

What I like about the Philippines is how easily one can get hold of antique ceramics. Although they say it's getting to be very difficult in getting new stocks since most were dug up in the 1950-60s.  Now, it's like waiting for Godot. There are good days and there are bad days, days of plenty and days of empty.  And my dealer endures the same cycle.

When I went there to scour for ceramic finds, I saw this little Annamese jarlet sitting marvelously inside a curio cabinet.  I was already on the tailend of my "shopping" when I inquired about this piece. It was very nice, no restorations whatsoever. The glaze though has degraded a bit, probably from being exposed to sea water.  Also, the base looked suspicious as if it was a bit too polished to make (signifying that this was probably a fake).  Then again, these parts in provincial Philippines, fakes are very very hard to come by- mostly because it's impractical to ship fake Kitchen Ming and SEAsian wares to a provincial city only to be haggled by paupers.  Also, the motif, the ink, the make and the material is consistent with Annamese wares of the 14th-15th centuries.

I got into my haggling protocol and I reminded them that I bought a lot of ceramics today, so they must give me this piece at a very good price. And a very good price indeed.  I thought to myself if I won't buy this, someone else would.

Such wonderful examples of these ceramic types can be seen in the online auction sites and online antique shops. An example of which can be seen here:   http://auction.sedwickcoins.com/Small-Annamese-jarlet-blue-on-cream-color-bird-and-plants-design_i9323160

Acquired for $21-

Happy Antiquing!

Seen Differently, an Anecdote on a Sukhothai Vase

Sometimes you have artifacts which at first you pass over because you see them by their beauty and not by their history. But it takes only a bit of research to change your mind thus, giving such objects a second look. 

A few weeks ago, I spotted this sad looking vase at an antique shop here in my city. It was tucked away at a dark corner with some santos and furniture. I picked it up and looked over it and returned it. It was so plain looking that I felt no collector wanted it. The dealer wanted to dispose it. The dealer said it was included in a cache of diggings that were sold a few months ago. This vase remained unsold.

It must be told that I spend an inordinate amount of time trawling on antique sites and researching Asian ceramics.  I was surprised when browsing at this site, I saw this:

http://maritimeasia.ws/exhib01/pages/p005.html

It turned out that it was indeed a beautiful example of a black iron oxide underglaze ware from the Sukhothai kilns made between the 14th to the 16th centuries. Its base is typical of the Sukhothai clay with heavy potting and a redish buscuit color.

It was so similar to the dealer's vase that I returned immediately to snap it up.  The vase in question was passable enough, a bit chipped on the rim, but the rest were intact. I haggled for the best price and got it for a song.

Acquired for $25

First Off...

This primarily is a basic catalog of my antique "finds" here in the my home province which is heretofore be fictionalized as the province of "Montemayor." I shall endeavor to describe the items in detail, its provenance and acquisition price. I hope this will encourage people to indulge in one of most rewarding of hobbies- antique collecting. Conservation and heritage be damned!