Past issues of the Museum of Southeast Asia’s Newsletter (2004-2017)

The Southeast Asian Ceramics Museum Newsletter was launched in September 2004 by Dr. Roxanna Brown, who was the first director of the Southeast Asian Ceramics Museum as well as an active SEACS member. It promoted the dissemination of knowledge, news, and research on the ceramics both made and discovered in Southeast Asia. Its back issues remain an excellent resource on Southeast Asian ceramics, archaeology, history and museology. Over the years, many SEACS members contributed to its issues. This link will take you to its home page where you can download any or all of its back issues.

A Short History of the Southeast Asian Ceramic Society 1969-2009

by Patricia Bjaaland Welch, previously published in Arts of Asia, May/June 2019.

Ceramics

Chinese Ceramics in Majapahit

by Professor John N. Miksic, Chapter I of Research on Ceramics Discovered at the Trowulan Site in Indonesia, published by the Southeast Asian Studies Program, NUS and the Asian Archaeological Team of Senshu University, Japan. 2010. A review of the history of Majapahit empire and the many Chinese ceramics that have been found, and are still being found in Majapahit. To download Part II on the collection of Trowulan B&W Chinese ceramics given to NUS, click here.

A Glimpse at Southeast Asian Ceramics Publications

by Sharon Wong Wai Yee, previously published in SPAFA Journal Vol. 19, No. 3. Researched and written in 2010 but still useful, sorted into geographies with recommended readings for Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Brunei, Myanmar, and Laos.

Archaeology, Pottery and Malay Culture

by Professor John N. Miksic, previously published in PASSAGE, Singapore: Friends of the Museums, May/June 2018, pp 14-15

A review of Bonnie Kemske’s Kintsugi (Bloombsbury, 2021) from The Economist can be found here.

European Ceramics for the Malay World

by Rossman Ithnain, previously published in PASSAGE, Singapore: Friends of the Museums, November/December 2018, pp 20-21

An Eye for Fake Antiques

with Peter Lam, then-Director of the Chinese University of Hong Kong Art Museum, and internationally-noted ceramic art historian, previously published in the Sunday Star on 17 June 2007. On how fake Chinese antiquities have become so sophisticated that detecting them now requires high-tech equipment. Very useful information for collectors.

China’s Influence on Delft Ceramics

by Dorien Knaap, previously published in PASSAGE, Singapore: Friends of the Museums, January/February 2019, pp. 16-17.

Chinese Export Ceramics for the SE Asian Market in the V&A Museum

a talk given by Rose Kerr as the 2010 William Willetts Lecture, recorded by Natalie SY Ong

Chinese Porcelain in Versailles: Was Louis XIV a porcelain lover?

by Caroline Carfantan, previously published in PASSAGE, Singapore: Friends of the Museums, January/February 2020, pp. 8-9.

Chinese Porcelain and Ceramics from the East African Coast

by Caroline Carfantan previously published in PASSAGE, Singapore: Friends of the Museums, January/February 2021, pp. 10-11

Cobalt: The Story of Cobalt in China

by Patricia Bjaaland Welch, previously published in PASSAGE, Singapore: Friends of the Museums, March/April 2021, pp 8-9.

The European Discovery of the Secrets of Porcelain

by Maura Rinaldi, previously published in PASSAGE, Singapore: Friends of the Museums, November/December 2014, pp 14-15

Bencharong for the Siamese Court

by Dawn Rooney, previously published in PASSAGE, Singapore: Friends of the Museums, May/June 2014, pp, 16-17.

Han Dynasty Ceramics

by Patricia Bjaaland Welch, previously published in PASSAGE, Singapore: Friends of the Museums, January/February 2019, pp. 8-9.

A Hong Bowl: Canton from the Pearl River

by Pia Rampal, previously published in PASSAGE, Singapore: Friends of the Museums, November/December 2014, p. 5

The Okeover Family Armorial Plate

by Simone F Lee, previously published in PASSAGE, Singapore: Friends of the Museums, November/December 2018, p. 5

Kendi: The Long Journey of a Little Water Vessel

by Margaret White, previously published in PASSAGE, Singapore: Friends of the Museums, May/June 2018, pp. 24-25

Navigating the Compass Dish: A Zhangzhou export dish with compass and ships

by Jen Quinn Choo, previously published in PASSAGE, Singapore: Friends of the Museums, January/February 2021, p. 5

Ryukyu Ceramics: Yachimum No Sato, The Hometowns of Ryukyu Ceramics

by John J. Toomey, previously published in Bangkok Museum Volunteers Newsletter, No. 6, June 2014, pp. 5-8

Song Ceramics

by Eng-Lee Seok Chee in May 1983 in anticipation of the Society’s exhibition on Song ceramics. A short but well-written introduction. Perhaps prepared for the press?

The Stories Ceramic Shards Tell

by Dr. Kyle David Latinis, previously published in PASSAGE, Singapore: Friends of the Museums, January/February 2020, pp 9-20

Sung Dynasty Guan (Kuan) Ware Porcelain

by the National Palace Museum, Taipei, undated.

Two Yuan Dynasty Qingbai Vases

by Tara Manser, previously published in PASSAGE, Singapore: Friends of the Museums, May/June 2018, pp. 10-11

An Introduction to Early Chinese Celadons

Summary of a talk by Professor Zhu Boqian, a world-renowned expert on greenwares, given in Singapore in 1997 and published in the SEACS Newsletter (Vol. 4, Number 1, April 2000)

A Visit to the Historic Kiln Sites in Fujian and Jingdezhen in May 2010

by Linda McLaren, previously published in the June 2010 issue of TAASA Review, the quarterly journal of the Asian Arts Society of Australia (NB: Page 26, Paragraph 3–Chen Jiazi should be referred to as a former curator of the National University of Singapore, NUS Museum). See the itinerary here.

A SEACS Study Trip to Taiwan and Hong Kong in October 2011 featured visits to some outstanding private collections and museums

With information on: (in Taipei:) the art of incense appreciation, the National Palace Museum, the Chang Foundation and its collection of Ru and Guan wares, the National Museum of History, the Yingge Ceramic Museum in Longshansi, the Sang Pu antiques market, and the Five-Dime Boat Restaurant; (in Hong Kong:) the Tianminlou Collection, the Riu Ju Tang Collection, and the Hong Kong Museum of Art’s ceramic galleries.

The Yongle Tibetan Monk’s Cap Ewer

by Wang Li-Ching, previously published in PASSAGE, Singapore: Friends of the Museums, January/February 2020, p. 4

A Nishapur Motif: On the Wings of a Bird

by Carolyn Pottinger, a previous version published in PASSAGE, Singapore: Friends of the Museums

Ceramic Collections, Museums and Special Exhibitions

Access to Pots: How to Access and Use Museum Collections

by Louise M Cort, who reminds us that since first writing that article, record cards and folder sheets have now given way to digital databases and Collections sections on museum web sites. Nevertheless, this insider’s guide is priceless.

The Museum of Oriental Ceramics (Osaka, Japan)

by Margaret White, previously published in PASSAGE, Singapore: Friends of the Museums, January/February 2019, p. 6.

The Kyushu Ceramic Museum (Kyushu, Japan)

by Patricia Bjaaland Welch, previously published in PASSAGE, Singapore: Friends of the Museums, March/April 2015, p. 9.

The Porcelain Museums of Meissen, Germany

by Patricia Bjaaland Welch, previously published in PASSAGE, Singapore: Friends of the Museums, November/December 2014, p. 7.

China Mania: The Global Passion for Porcelain 800-1900, An Exhibition in Singapore’s Asian Civilisations Museum 2014 by Patricia Bjaaland Welch, previously published in PASSAGE, Singapore: Friends of the Museums, November/December 2014, pp 16-17.

The Sir Percival David Collection in the Sir Joseph Hotung Centre for Ceramic Studies in the British Museum, London

by Jan Stuart, previously published story of the April 29 opening at the British Museum of the custom-designed gallery devoted to the internationally renowned Sir Percial David Collection of Chinese Art. Includes an introduction to the new gallery with many photographs of the ceramics on display.

The Significance of Ceramics in Private Chinese Collections: Notes on a New Set of Catalogues

by Dr. Baoping LI, previously published article in the OCS Newsletter, Number 28, May 2020

Shipwrecks and Shipwreck Ceramics

The Brunei Shipwreck

A trip to Brunei to uncover the story of the Brunei Shipwreck and to visit Brunei’s relevant museums, by Patricia Bjaaland Welch, previously published in PASSAGE, Singapore: Friends of the Museums, July/August 2018, pp. 6-7.

The Cirebon Cargo and its Yue Ceramics

The summary of a talk on the ship and its cargo given at a SEACS meeting 18 May 2010