Welcome to the
Southeast Asian Ceramic Society
(SEACS)
What is the Southeast Asian Ceramic Society?
The Southeast Asian Ceramic Society was founded in 1969 in Singapore 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, members meet in live or online sessions to hear talks by both local and international experts, to share information and to study and compare ‘pots’. Members also have access to previous recorded lectures and events, but many of this website’s features are free and available to all as you will discover.
For example, our members share some of their collecting stories (and the lessons they learned) with you in “Ceramic Stories”, found on the main menu. Read the story of one collector’s research into the collection he built up over the years while living in Southeast Asia by clicking on the picture on the right.
Upcoming events
Dr. Sharon Wong investigates the possible technological transfer of ceramic production between Angkor and China during the 9th to 14th centuries looking at two distinctive ceramic products: covered boxes and roof tiles. Could the study of these ceramics provide a new placing of Angkor and the port cities of China, such as Guangzhou and Quanzhou, into the interregional networks of maritime Asia?
Who we are and what we do…
We are a non-profit society, founded in 1969, whose members are interested in Southeast Asian ceramics. Members needn’t be collectors, just interested in the various roles ceramics play in history, trade and culture. We are open to all from beginners to academics to specialized collectors. The Society arranges monthly programmes held on ZOOM with both local and international experts (see our line-up of current and past programmes here). The majority of these programmes are recorded and available to members as a benefit of membership.
For local members, hands-on ‘handling sessions’ are held on a regular basis with experts to help members learn how to identify correctly the ceramics they may own or be considering for purchase. We also arrange an annual ceramics and book sale (featuring items de-accessioned from members’ collections) that includes many hard-to-find, out-of-print books on ceramics. Our online presence includes the digitisation of some of our publications. Field trips to both local and international destinations are regular member highlights.
The society and its early exhibitions “of the then-little-known ceramic tradition of Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam caused a stir amongst the oriental ceramic cognoscenti, … 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. Browse the many resources open to all on our website.
Ceramic News
Shipwreck magazine features Southeast Asia
Interested in shipwrecks? Then you'll want to check out this new digital magazine Wreckwatch launched in 2020 and published quarterly. Its Autumn 2021 issue focused on Southeast Asia and has articles featuring the Belitung, Professor John Miksic, "The Siren of Cirebon", Quanzhou, an interview with Peter Frankopan (author of The Silk Roads), and an article on wreckollections (yes, it's a pun) by D [...]
New Publication on Yuan Dynasty B&W Porcelain
Dr. WENG Yanjun (Director, Jingdezhen Ceramic Archaeology Institute) and Dr. LI Baoping (Research Associate, School of Archaeology, University of Oxford) and an upcoming 2022 SEACS programme speaker, have recently published a new volume, New Finds of Yuan Dynasty Blue-and-White Porcelain from the Luomaqiao Kiln Site, Jingdezhen: An Archaeological Approach. Rose Kerr has called it "important archa [...]
Thailand’s Phanom-Surin Shipwreck
The 28-meter long Phanom-Surin shipwreck (PNS) recently found in the upper Gulf of Thailand dates roughly to the same period as Singapore’s ‘Tang shipwreck’, the Belitung, but unfortunately was cargo-less. Read more about this remarkable find and the handful of ceramics that were found with it....
Farewell to Underwater Archaeologist Sheldon Clyde Jago-on (1971-2021)
We have lost another great maritime archaeologist: Sheldon Clyde Jago-on, who passed away 9 March 2021. Clyde was the Curator of the Archaeology Division and a former Officer in Charge of the Maritime and Underwater Cultural Heritage division of the National Museum of the Philippines.
Ru Ceramic Brush Washer discovered in Dresden Museum
During a review of the digital catalogue of the porcelain collection of the Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden (SKD), one piece caught Chinese ceramic expert Regina Krahl's special attention....
Singapore Ceramics Now [2021]
This special exhibition, which closed on 13 February 2021, was founded and led by Artistic Director Jason Lim (a renowned Singaporean ceramicist and performance artist) and curated in partnership with SEED the Art Space.