Pottery: Unidentified form

Object Details

• Provenance

  ?-1987

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

  From 1987

  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 object is described as “Thailand [/] Kiln site: Kalong [/] Group I.” The Study Collection object card states that this object was a “Gift of John Shaw, Chiang Mai, 1987.”

  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 note 1.

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

  Research updated November 18, 2024

• Collection

  Freer Study Collection

• Previous custodian or owner

  John C. Shaw (1934-2024)

• Origin

  Thailand

• Credit Line

  Gift of Mr. John Shaw

• Type

  Vessel

• Restrictions and Rights

  Usage Conditions Apply

  There are restrictions for re-using this media. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page.

  The information presented on this website may be revised and updated at any time as ongoing research progresses or as otherwise warranted. Pending any such revisions and updates, information on this site may be incomplete or inaccurate or may contain typographical errors. Neither the Smithsonian nor its regents, officers, employees, or agents make any representations about the accuracy, reliability, completeness, or timeliness of the information on the site. Use this site and the information provided on it subject to your own judgment. The National Museum of Asian Art welcomes information that would augment or clarify the ownership history of objects in their collections.

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)