This figure of a court official dressed in a ceremonical outfit of long coat and scholarly flat-topped hat, is decorated with underglaze blue outlines and simple motifs. He carries a vessel decorated with clouds and pearl motifs. This rare piece of a scholar was reportedly retrieved from the Hoi An wreck off the coast of central Vietnam, as all the other known examples from this cargo were damaged. There were several Vietnamese figures amongst a larger group of kneeling figures in the cargo, which is thought to have been bound for Indonesia.Although heavily influenced by the Chinese ceramic tradition, Vietnam materials and potting styles are unique. Technically not ‘porcelain’, which is translucent and pure white, these stonewares are different in appearance from Chinese and other Southeast Asian ceramics. Vietnamese wares are typically more heavily potted and have an off-white clay body. Cobalt oxide could have been imported from West Asia via China to produce the blue tones.Vietnam entered the international trade during the 14th century and produced the greatest volume and variety of wares for Southeast Asia, particularly Indonesia, the Philippines and Malaysia. However, by the 16th century, due to intense competition from the Chinese kilns, the export of Vietnamese wares to these markets was greatly reduced.
