Kiln waster, three dishes fused together

Object Details

• Provenance

  ?-?

  Found by Acharn Kraisri Nimmanahaeminda (1912-1992) in Thailand [1]

  ?-1984

  John Alexander Pope (1906-1982), method of acquisition unknown [2]

  From 1984

  National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, gift of John Alexander Pope [3]

  Notes:

  [1] See inscription on the interior of the dish, which states, "Chiang Mai [/] Thailand [/] Recovered by Khrisi [Kraisri Nimmanahaeminda].”

  See also Study Collection object card, copy in object file. Object is described as, “Pottery [/] Thailand [/] Sankampaeng.” Object’s source is described as, “Chiang Mai [/] Thailand [/] Recovered by Khrisi [Kraisri Nimmanahaeminda].” The Study Collection card also describes this object as a “Gift of John A. Pope.”

  Acharn Kraisri Nimmanahaeminda (1912-1992) was a Thai scholar, collector of ceramics, and served on the Government's Committee for Thai History in the Office of the Prime Minister. He "discovered" and assisted various hilltribe people, campaigned successfully for the establishment of Chiengmai University, revived the making of green glazed ceramics and the carving of wood, popularized the tradition of the kantoke dinner, and was a distinguished Honourary Member of the Siam Society. In recognition of his scholarly accomplishments, Acham Kraisri Nimmanahaeminda was awarded a Doctorate by the University of Chiengmai which was graciously conferred by His Majesty the King in 1982. See Jan J. Boeles, “Kraisri Nimmanahaeminda (In Memoriam)” from “Journal of the Siam Society,” 1992, vol. 80.1, pp. 167-168.

  [2] See note 1, Study Collection card.

  John Alexander Pope (1906-1982) was a renowned scholar and collector of Asian art, especially Chinese and Japanese ceramics. He spent most of his professional career at the Freer Gallery of Art, which he joined in 1943 as an Associate in Research. He later served as Assistant Director (1946 to 1962) and then as Director (1962 to 1971). After his retirement in August 1971, he continued at the Freer Gallery of Art as Director Emeritus and Research Curator for Far Eastern Ceramics. He is also known for his two pioneering studies of early Chinese blue-and-white porcelain, “Fourteenth Century Blue and White" (1952) and "Chinese Porcelains from the Ardebil Shrine" (1956). Pope also acquired many pottery sherds during his frequent travels to Asian and Europe, and many of the sherds are now part of the study collection at the National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution.

  [3] See note 1, Study Collection card.

  The object is part of the museum’s Freer Study Collection.

  Research updated November 14, 2024

• Collection

  Freer Study Collection

• Previous custodian or owner

  Acharn Kraisri Nimmanahaeminda (1912-1992)

  Dr. John Alexander Pope (1906-1982)

• Origin

  Chiang Mai province, Thailand

• Credit Line

  Gift of John A. Pope

• Type

  Vessel

• Restrictions and Rights

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Keep Exploring

• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Date

  1300s, 1560s

• Name

  Pope, John Alexander, Nimmanahaeminda, Kraisri

• Place

  Chiang Mai province, Thailand

• Topic

  Art, Green glaze, Stoneware, Southeast Asian Art, San Kamphaeng ware, Ceramics, Lan Na period (1251 - 1774)

• Culture

  Southeast Asians

• Object Type

  Vessels (containers)