Welcome to SEACS:
Southeast Asian Ceramic Society
(SEACS)
What is the Southeast Asian Ceramic Society?
SEACS (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 monthly in live or online sessions to hear talks by both local and international experts, to share information and to study and compare ‘pots’. An important benefit of membership is access to previously recorded lectures by leading global experts. However, many of this website’s features are free and available to all ceramic enthusiasts. For example:
Read our members’ collecting stories (with their lessons-learned for new collectors) in “Ceramic Stories”, found here. Introductory essays to the ceramics of Southeast Asia, written by academic experts and archaeologists, are accessible to all visitors to our site 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
Ceramic jars were critical utilitarian objects in the c [...]
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 both live and/or 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
In Memoriam: John Norman Miksic (1946-2025)
John Norman Miksic 1946-2025 John Norman Miksic, the “Indiana Jones” of Singapore Archaeology, former SEACS President, and beloved advisor, professor and friend, died on October 25, aged 79. He never thought of archaeologically investigating Fort Canning until the invitation to do so came from the old National Museum in 1983. He was focused on Indonesian archaeology, having excavated port settle [...]
SEACS speaker wins Japan Foundation Award
SEACS guest speaker Marty Gross has been announced as one of the recipients of the Japan Foundation Awards for 2025 recognising his work collecting and restoring old films that highlight early Asian potters and their craft. "Through his Mingei Film Archive Project, he has unearthed and meticulously restored rare 16 mm footage captured in the 1930s by the legendary British potter Bernard Leach—a c [...]
At last! – A History of Korean Ceramics
The book Edmund de Waal has decreed "the book on Korean ceramics we have been waiting for." It is engaging and it is magisterial. And I love it!" This beautifully constructed and illustrated volume is the true long-waited-for guide to Korean ceramics. Authors Beth McKillop and Jane Portal have finally provided us with a single volume that covers the A-Z of the topic with chapters dedicated to Cla [...]
The Financial Arrangements of Global Trade in its Early Years
Ever wonder how international trade was financed in the days before computers, electronic banking transfers and the like? SEACS' President was recently asked this question and shares the answer with us in this paper on "How the Belitung was Financed". Download here. And if you missed Dr. Flecker's July 2024 report on "The Temasek Wreck Blue-and-White Porcelain Database" published by the NUS Press [...]
SEACS Members’ Handling Sessions for 2025-26
SEACS has launched its series of handling sessions for its resident members beginning with the topic of "blue & white" on 22 September, to be followed by a handling session on 21 October on "celadons". The November handling session will be held on November 17 with a focus on Qing monochromes. These sessions give members the opportunity to bring their shards or pieces to pass around and discus [...]
A Valuable Research Resource: Southeast Asian Ceramic Special Exhibition Categories 1970-2009
"Exhibition catalogues are important guidebooks for ceramic enthusiasts and researchers to understand Southeast Asian ceramics. Compared with words, images in exhibition catalogues can provide a visual representation and perceptual knowledge of the styles and forms of ceramics." Dr. Sharon Wong's article on exhibition catalogues provides a useful resource for collectors. Click here for a link to [...]
More information on the topic of Qur’an manuscripts from Aceh
Our August guest speaker, Annabel Gallop, who recently spoke to SEACS members and docents at the Asian Civilisations Museum in Singapore, has shared a recent article she has written for those who would like to learn more about Qur'ans made for Aceh. You can find her beautifully illustrated article at this website link. [...]
Launch of “Clay & Colour: Ceramics from the Alice & Peter Tan Collection”
SEACS President Kwa Chong Guan gave the Remarks at the launch of Clay & Colour at its launch 24 July, 2025, which are now available for download here...
More on Kedah
Two new books have been published on the history and archaeology of Kedah and the Bujang Valley in the May 2025 issue of JMBRAS--and have been reviewed by the Society's President, Professor Kwa Chong Guan. Download the relevant reviews here...
Ceramics in Mainland Southeast Asia: The Freer Collection
If you're reading this, you are seeking information on Southeast Asian Ceramics and we'd like to recommend you not forget the valuable resources of the Smithsonian. This link provides the gateway to a bounty of free articles, photographs, research opportunities, and helpful information. [...]
Meet Portugal’s New Ceramics Centre: The Albuquerque Foundation
Since Portugal's new ceramics centre opened on 22 February, it has welcomed over 5,000 visitors from 25 countries to its two opening exhibitions: Connections, with works from the Albuquerque Collection of Chinese Ceramics, and The Ever-Present Hand by the American artist Theaster Gates. It has also announced its first international conference ("Connections"), which will be centred on its historic [...]
Public Talk in Mandarin in Singapore: “Why Jingdezhen? Tracing the Roots of the World’s Porcelain Capital”
The Society for Chinese Ceramics Studies (SCCS) invites Singapore residents to a public talk in Mandarin: "Why Jingdezhen? Tracing the Roots of the World's Porcelain Capital." The talk covers the development of Jingdezhen as the ceramic centre of China and the world, exploring the key factors that shaped its rise to global prominence in the Ming and Qing dynasties, with item illustrations. Date: [...]
Exhibition on Ceramic Roof Tile Traditions and the Maritime Trade Road
SEACS members visiting Cambodia over the next few months may be interested in a new exhibition sponsored by the APSARA National Authority and the Department of Anthropology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong. "Angkor and China: Ceramic Roof Tiles Traditions and Maritime Trade Road" (June 3 - December 31, 2025), is being held at the Preah Norodom Sihanouk-Angkor Museum. "The exhibition aims to h [...]
A History of Korean Ceramics
The long-awaited comprehensive book on the history of Korean ceramics! This beautiful, richly-illustrated by Beth McKillop and Jane Portal has just been published by Reaktion Books. In the words of Edmund de Waal, "This is the book on Korean ceramics we have been waiting for. It is engaging and it is magisterial. And I love it."
The 2025 William Willetts Lecture
This year's William Willetts Lecture will be held on Friday, 14 March in the Visitors' Room of the Singapore National Library (7:00-8:30 pm). Our speaker will be former SEACS President and founding director of the Asian Civilisations Museum (ACM) and the Peranakan Museum (TPM), Dr. Kenson Kwok, who will be sharing with us the story of the Frank and Pamela Hickley Dehua Collection. Our speaker is [...]