Title
Bowl
Year/Period
14th century
Region
North Vietnam
Material
Dimension
Object size: H9.0 x Dia21.0 cm
Accession No.
C-1597
Credit Line
Gift of Dr Earl Lu

This conical bowl with sharply sloping sides has a slightly everted rim and short foot. It is covered in bright, copper green glaze with an incised floral design in the interior walls.The glaze colourant is copper oxide in a lead-based glaze. 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. 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.