Glazed Martaban Vessel

• Made in the kilns of Southern China and from the Khmer Kingdom of Cambodia, martaban jars have been used for centuries for the transport of goods.
• The name refers to the port of Marta Ban in present-day Myanmar, where many of these pieces left on their initial journey.
• In many cultures, particularly in Borneo, martaban jars were passed down through generations as cherished heirlooms, and had a strong spiritual and magical personality.
• This example is covered in a pale white slip with dragon, crane and decorative motifs in cobalt, pale celadon and russet tones typical to those of the Ming dynasty.

Collected in Borneo in the 1980s.