The Chalre Collection of Earthenware Ceramics (Main Period: 1000 to 1600 AD) Examples of Chinese Earthenware Ceramics from The Chalre Collection are listed below. Click on the icons for a full page description of each piece. More are being added on a regular basis and research into the origins, dating and descriptions of each artifact is ongoing, so please come back again. In the meantime, enjoy your discovery of The Chalre Collection of Asian Ceramic Art. The Story of Chinese Earthenware Ceramics During ancient times when the Chinese empire controlled the trade routes of Southeast Asia, Earthenware jars were used to store trade goods (smaller Porcelain, spices, beads, etc.). They were also used to store the food and water supplies of the men sailing the ships. So attractive and durable were the vessels that they also served as trade goods themselves. The result over time was that Earthenware jars were dispersed across Southeast Asia with a variety of ornamental motifs. These include forms such as Buddhist and Taoist symbols that were otherwise alien to Southeast Asia. There were also floral designs of plants species which are not native to much of Southeast Asia. The importance of the jars was documented by Magellan in 1521. His chronicles describe how he was presented with "three Porcelain jars covered with leaves and filled with rice wine" by an important tribal chief in Philippines. Numerous jars of wine were brought to a reception of the rajah of Cebu (middle part of Philippines), one of the most powerful rulers of the region at the time, and presented as gifts. Decorated Earthenware jars were so revered by local people that medicine men would (unfortunately) remove samplings of the Ceramics to be consumed with medicinal potions or for religious ceremonies. It is for this reason that ancient jars are commonly seen with rims that have been partly ground off. | | | | | | LARGE PAINTED MARTABAN JAR Ming Dynasty Era (1368 - 1644) | FUNERARY JAR WITH DRAGON Sung Dynasty Era (960 - 1279) | BROWN JAR WITH ANIMAL-MASK HANDLES Han Dynasty Era (206 BC - 220 AD) | | | | | | | BROWN STONEWARE JAR Ming Dynasty Era (1368 - 1644) | MARTABAN JAR WITH MEDALLIONS Ming Dynasty Era (1368 - 1644) | LARGE MARTABAN JAR WITH ANIMAL SHAPES Ming Dynasty Era (1368 - 1644) | | | | | | | JAR WITH CIRCULAR PRESSED DESIGN Ming Dynasty Era (1368 - 1644) | JAR WITH CIRCULAR PRESSED DESIGN Ming Dynasty Era (1368 - 1644) | STONEWARE JARLET FROM SHIPWRECK Ming Dynasty Era (1368 - 1644) | | | | | | | TWO-HANDLED GUAN WITH IMPRESSED DESIGN Ming Dynasty Era (1368 - 1644) | SMALL BROWN GUAN Ming Dynasty Era (1368 - 1644) | TWO-HANDLED GREY JARLET Ming Dynasty Era (1368 - 1644) | | | | | | | BROWN JARLET Ming Dynasty Era (1368 - 1644) | BROWN JARLET Ming Dynasty Era (1368 - 1644) | LARGE JAR WITH CLOUD PANELS Ming Dynasty Era (1368 - 1644) | | | | | | | LARGE JAR WITH INCISED PEONIES Ming Dynasty Era (1368 - 1644) | LARGE JAR WITH CLOUD PANELS Ming Dynasty Era (1368 - 1644) | BROWN JARLET FROM SHIPWRECK Ming Dynasty Era (1368 - 1644) | | | | | | | JARLET FROM SHIPWRECK Ming Dynasty Era (1368 - 1644) | BROWN JARLET FROM SHIPWRECK Ming Dynasty Era (1368 - 1644) | BROWN JARLET FROM SHIPWRECK Ming Dynasty Era (1368 - 1644) | | | | | | | BROWN JARLET WITH HANDLES Ming Dynasty Era (1368 - 1644) | JAR WITH CIRCULAR PRESSED DESIGN Ming Dynasty Era (1368 - 1644) | JAR WITH CIRCULAR PRESSED DESIGN Ming Dynasty Era (1368 - 1644) | | | | | | | GUAN WITH IMPRESSED DESIGN Ming Dynasty Era (1368 - 1644) | JAR WITH IMPRESSED DESIGN Ming Dynasty Era (1368 - 1644) | DARK BROWN JAR Ming Dynasty Era (1368 - 1644) | | | | | | | MORE TO COME | | | | | | |