Chinese Porcelain

Zhangzhou (Swatow) wares 1570-1650

Other wares

Jingdezhen was the production centre of export porcelain, but smaller kilns in southern China competed on Asian markets. A group of factories in the south of Fujian province was particularly active. Their products are referred to by the old name of 'Swatow', which is derived from the harbour from where these wares were allegedly shipped. However, recent archaeological research has proved that in fact they were produced in the Zhangzhou area in a variety of kilns. Thick-bodied porcelain or stoneware dishes, jars, jarlets and covered boxes were made here from around 1570. Bowls, bottles, vases and kendis are more rare.

The output was exported to Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines and Japan, but not to Europe, where this type was regarded as too heavy and coarse. The Portuguese – and later the VOC (Dutch East India Company, 1602–1799) – used Swatow as a commodity in their inter-Asian trade. The type is known in underglaze blue, in overglaze enamels and in combinations of the two. The decorations are largely derived from Jiajing and kraak porcelain made for export in Jingdezhen, but the quality of their painting is usually noticeably inferior. Landscapes with birds or deer, for instance, were sometimes drawn so quickly and sketchily that it is difficult to see what exactly is depicted. Dishes and jars often have much kiln grit adhering to their bases and their thick, milky glaze can be heavily crackled. Rather unusual are dishes with an underglaze monochrome brown or blue, decorated in white slib with dots and lines a technique only seen on Swatow wares. Also exclusive to Swatow are dishes decorated in green enamels with Arabic inscriptions that were made for the sultans in Aceh (northern Sumatra). The large jars were used to transport and stored dried fish, pickled vegetables, arak, oil, etc. Small jars contained cosmetic oils or magical fluids, while covered boxes held a paste, an ointment or whatever the owner wanted to keep in it. Swatow was highly regarded in Indonesia and for centuries pieces were cherished as family heirlooms (pusaka porcelain). Almost all Swatow in the Netherlands was collected in the former Dutch Indies and ended up here. The civil wars in China in the mid-17th century interrupted porcelain exports from Jingdezhen, but brought an end to Swatow production.

2012573

Zhangzhou (Swatow) wares 1570-1650 - Other wares

Object 2012573

Storage Jar / Martavan

(Southeast) China, Zhangzhou (Swatow)

1570-1650

Height 267 mm (10.51 inch), diameter 235 mm (9.25 inch), diameter of rim 85 mm (3.34 inch), diameter of footring 120 mm (4.72 inch), weight c.3.000 grams (109.00 ounce (oz.))

Baluster-shaped storage jar on low footring with a short neck, a rounded lip and four vertical strap-handles placed around the shoulder. Crackled glaze. Decorated in underglaze blue with two rather burlesque dragons between cloud-scrolls and segmented waves. On the shoulder a lotus leaf pattern border and around the neck swirls and dashes.

For similarly decorated storage jars / martavans, please see:

Condition: Overall fine crazing and some firing flaws to the glaze, a glaze chip to the inner rim and one of the straps.

References:

Frank 1969, p.2

Miedema 1964, cat. S130

Woodward 1974, cat. 16

Harrisson 1979, cat. 53

Wiesner 1983, cat. 146

Adhyatman 1999, cat. 125

Price: € 799 Currency Converter

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