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
We were so sorry to disappoint our many members who didn't make the previous tour of the Ft.Canning Ceramic Exhibition so beautifully curated and presented by The Society for Chinese Ceramics Studies, that we are offering our members & their families a second chance to tour the exhibition on Sunday afternoon, September 24 at 3:00 pm. Sign up a.s.a.p. to avoid being disappointed again! More details follow....
November 9-11 SEACS has arranged a special members -only field trip to the kilns and historic sites of Sukhothai and Si Satchanalai in northern Thailand with two renowned experts of Thai ceramics. Full details including the trip itinerary, costs, and application forms are now available. Registration is on a first-come, first-accepted basis.
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
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.
Hanoi Visitor attraction: Bát Tràng ceramics exhibition at the Vietnam National Museum of History, Hanoi
SEACS members won't want to miss the unique exhibition of beautiful Bát Tràng pottery dating from the 14th to the 17th centuries on display in the National Museum of History in Hanoi. The exhibition features 39 ceramic artefacts representing each period, displayed in four sections – an overview of the history of the formation of Bát Tràng Pottery Village, Bát Tràng pottery artefacts in the 14th C [...]
“Kaleidoscope in Clay” Part II exhibition opens in Singapore on 15 July
The Society for Chinese Ceramics Studies (SCCS) announces Part II of their exhibition series in honour of their 18th anniversary. The exhibition, which focuses on the utilitarian art of the Song (970-1279) and Yuan (1279-1368) Dynasties, opens at the Gallery@L3 Fort Canning Centre on 15 July.
Our Members’ Ceramics Sale (open to the public) is drawing near!! Mark your calendar: 2-3 September
Preparations have started for our annual Ceramic Sale : members are selecting and submitting their items to be catalogued over the next few weeks, potential buyers are marking their calendars. Read all about this unique opportunity here to enhance your collection of SEA ceramics. Artefacts range from study shards to collectibles and prices begin as low as S$20!
