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:
Read our member’ collecting stories (and the lessons they learned) in “Ceramic Stories”, found here.
And we have one of the most accessed, readable and referred-to summaries of early shipwrecks of the region that can be found on the internet today. Jump there from here.
Upcoming events
This will be a ZOOM meeting as our speaker, Li Baoping, is based in London, newly returned from Jingdezhen. Dr. Li specializes in Chinese ceramics and their global distribution. His research involves collaboration with curators, scholars, artists, collectors and archaeologists across China and the world. More information will be posted shortly.
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. The majority of our programmes are now 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
Port & Pottery Exhibition open now in Kuala Lumpur until 31 December 2023
SEACS members travelling to Kuala Lumpur before the end of the year, don't miss this exhibition "Rediscovering Ancient and Contemporary Ceramics of Malacca" organised by the Museum of Asian Art, Universiti Malaya, and DSIC, open M-F, closed Sat, Sun & public holidays. Free admission.
SEACS Members invited to attend two Upcoming SCCS Lectures on Dec. 11 and 15
SEACS Members are invited to attend two English public lectures by Prof Sabrina Rastelli, Professor of Chinese Art and Archeology, Ca Foscari University Venice, Italy on (1) the aesthetics of Chinese ceramics during the N. Song and Jin Dynasties, and (2) secrets of the Yaozhou Kilns revealed in recent archaeological finds. Both lectures will be conducted in English and are free.
Singapore’s Missing Gold Coins
Two ancient gold coins, probably from Aceh, were discovered in Singapore in the middle of the 19th century. Unfortunately, they disappeared a few decades later. SEACS Council member Shu Tieng FOO has researched these famed 'missing gold coins' in an article published in the Oct-Dec 2023 issue of BiblioAsia, published by the Singapore National Library. We think you'll find it as fascinating...
Former SEACS Council Members in the News
On 28 August 2023, Chief Executive Officer of the Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre, Sze Wee, recounted how he first met Juliana Lim 20 years ago, when they were both volunteers on the Council of the Southeast Asian Ceramic Society. The event was the launch of Juliana's memoir at the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts, during which she recounted her life and experiences in helping build the arts in Singapore. Her delightful memoir (For Arts' Sake: Memoirs of a Singapore Arts Manager) can be purchased from Epigram and Kinokuniya bookshops and on-line at Amazon, Lazada and Shopee.
John Miksic Wins Singapore Award
Congratulations to our past President Prof John N Miksic for being conferred the Public Service Medal for his contribution to developing archaeology in Singapore at this year's National Day Awards Ceremony. John has been a long-time friend and mentor of the society, serving on its Council for many years before taking on the Presidency 2020-2022. He has given the society countless talks and led us on fascinating field trips from Java to Myanmar to Kedah, sharing his enthusiasm and his knowledge with our members and their families, inspiring new generations of archaeologists.
SEACS Volunteers thanked in the July 2023 issue of MUSE SG
Our SEACS volunteers are featured in the July 2023 issue of MUSE SG covering Singapore's ongoing research and work in extracting clues to its early history. SEACS members were amongst the first volunteers to be trained to help wash, identify, sort and catalogue its most recent marine finds.
