Pottery: Unidentified form

Object Details

• Provenance

  At least 1976-1988

  John C. Shaw (1934-2024), method of acquisition unknown [1]

  From 1988

  National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, gift of John C. Shaw [2]

  Notes:

  [1] See Study Collection object card, copy in object file. The source for the objects FSC-P-3837 to FSC-P-3851 are described as “Thailand.” The kiln sites are described as “Kalong, Group I” (FSC-P-3837–3841),

  “Kalong, Wang Nua, Group IV” (FSC-P-3842–3843), “Phayao” (FSC-P-3844–3846), “Sansai” (FSC-P-3847), “Phan” (FSC-P-3848), “Nan” (FSC-P-3849), “Lampang” (FSC-P-3850), and “Haripunchai” [Haripunjaya] (FSC-P-3851).

  See also John C. Shaw, “Kalong Introduction” [webpage], “Shaw Collection,”

  http://shawcollection.com/categery.php?pid=8. 15 October 2024. According to John C. Shaw’s website, he first visited Kalong in 1976.

  See also incoming receipt, dated November 9, 1987, copy in object file. The objects were transferred from John C. Shaw to the Freer Gallery of Art for acquisition consideration on November 9, 1987. FSC-P-3837 to FSC-P-3851 are described as “Fourteen (14) [sic, Fifteen (15)] sherds from Northern Thai or Lan Na kiln sites.”

  John C. Shaw (1934-2024) was an English-born businessman and collector of Thai ceramics, Thai lacquer wares, silver, and other objects. Shaw attended Magdalen College at Oxford University and later married Pat Kemasingki, the daughter of a high-ranking Thai army officer. Shaw and his wife first became interested in ceramics when they lived in Indonesia in the early 1970's. The couple started collecting Chinese export wares, but they switched their focus to Thai ceramics when they relocated to Thailand. Shaw lived in Chiang Mai in northern Thailand between 1976 and 2001 and he began to collect ceramics from sites in the region. Shaw also acquired objects from dealers and collectors in Thailand. He was the author of several books on ceramics, including the most important English-language text focusing on the wares and kilns in northern Thailand, entitled “Northern Thai Ceramics” (1981). His other book, “Introducing Thai Ceramics Also Burmese and Khmer” (1987), was reprinted by Citylife Publications as “Thai Ceramics” in 2009.

  [2] See Deed of Gift, copy in object file. The Deed of Gift was signed by the donor on March 30, 1988, and signed by the museum’s acting director on April 25, 1988. The objects are described as “14 [struck through] 15 pottery shards from Northern Thai or Lan Na kilnsites.”

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

  Research updated October 9, 2024

• Collection

  Freer Study Collection

• Previous custodian or owner

  John C. Shaw (1934-2024)

• Origin

  Thailand

• Credit Line

  Gift of John C. Shaw

• Type

  Vessel

• Restrictions and Rights

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Keep Exploring

• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Date

  1770s, 1200s

• Name

  Shaw, John C.

• Place

  Thailand

• Topic

  Art, Southeast Asian Art, Ceramics, Lan Na period (1251 - 1774)

• Culture

  Southeast Asians

• Object Type

  Vessels (containers)