Southeast Asian Ceramic Society

Formed in 1969, the Southeast Asian Ceramic Society’s purpose is to widen appreciation and acquire knowledge of the ceramic art of China and countries adjacent to China, especially those of Southeast Asia. To pursue this aim, local members meet for periodic discussion, to hear talks by experts and to study and compare ‘pots’.

The Southeast Asian Ceramics Society organised an inaugural Exhibition at the University Art Museum, Singapore in 1971. This landmark exhibition consisted of 350 examples of Khmer, Annamese and early Thai pottery, drawn largely from the University collection built up by Mr William Willets, the curator, who served as the first President of the Society. A substantial number of pieces also came from the collection of Don Sinclair and other Members of the first Council.

The historian Mr John Guy has noted that this "presentation of the then little known ceramic tradition of Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam caused a stir amongst the oriental ceramic cognoscenti.” Furthermore, that "the Willets pioneering Catalogue for the Society inspired a generation of younger scholars and stimulated the interest of government archaeological departments throughout Southeast Asia." As a consequence, ceramic societies were to emerge in ensuing years in West Malaysia, Jakarta, Manila and Hong Kong, following the lead of the Singapore chapter.

Current & Forthcoming Events click on the links below or go to Events page for more info * unless otherwise noted, location of listed events is Singapore 10 November 2009 lecture @ Peranakan Museum, Singapore Who were the Javanese Worshipping at Borobudur? Speaker Dr John MIksic 7 July - 23 Nov 2008 exhibition @ ACM Singapore Seeing Red: Propaganda and Material Culture in China (1966 – 1976) January 2009 Ceramics Fundamentals I February 2009 trip to Central Java July 2009 Ceramics Fundamentals II (Banding Wheel) ongoing exhibition @ NUS Museums, Singapore Ways of Seeing Chinese Art What's new on this website? In Memoriam Roxanna Brown The Oriental Ceramic Society of the Philippines June 2008 newsletter uploaded 20 June 2008 The Oriental Ceramic Society of Hong Kong Ltd Spring Newsletter, May 2008 uploaded 20 June 2008 Southeast Asian Ceramics Museum, Bangkok current newsletter: May-June 2008 The Oriental Ceramic Society (UK) Summer 2008 Programme uploaded 7 may 2008 An Eye For Fake Antiques published in Sunday Star (Malaysia) 17 June 2007 uploaded 10 july 2007 Cirebon Cargo of Yue Ceramics Vessels by Yvonne Tan \| published in ASIAN ART NEWSPAPER, May 2007 Buddhist Sculptures from Shandong by Yvonne Tan \| published in ASIAN ART NEWSPAPER, May 2007	Home \| Council \| Events \| Publications News from Other Societies \| Links \| Maps How to Join \| How to Contact Us
	Formed in 1969, the Southeast Asian Ceramic Society’s purpose is to widen appreciation and acquire knowledge of the ceramic art of China and countries adjacent to China, especially those of Southeast Asia. To pursue this aim, local members meet for periodic discussion, to hear talks by experts and to study and compare ‘pots’. The Southeast Asian Ceramics Society organised an inaugural Exhibition at the University Art Museum, Singapore in 1971. This landmark exhibition consisted of 350 examples of Khmer, Annamese and early Thai pottery, drawn largely from the University collection built up by Mr William Willets, the curator, who served as the first President of the Society. A substantial number of pieces also came from the collection of Don Sinclair and other Members of the first Council. The historian Mr John Guy has noted that this "presentation of the then little known ceramic tradition of Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam caused a stir amongst the oriental ceramic cognoscenti.” Furthermore, that "the Willets pioneering Catalogue for the Society inspired a generation of younger scholars and stimulated the interest of government archaeological departments throughout Southeast Asia." As a consequence, ceramic societies were to emerge in ensuing years in West Malaysia, Jakarta, Manila and Hong Kong, following the lead of the Singapore chapter.