This water pot also known as 'kendi' has a faceted body, a bulbous spout and finely painted motifs of lively three blue birds in a landscape and a band of petals at the mouth, neck and base.Vietnam has a distinctive ceramic tradition that uses local materials and potting styles. Technically not ‘porcelain’, which is translucent and pure white, these stonewares are different in appearance from Chinese and other Southeast Asian ceramics. Kendi is a Malay term derived from the Sanskrit word ‘kundika’, a small ritual pouring vessel. A typical kendi has a bulbous body, a neck which is used for holding the vessel and a spout. The tradition of using kendi in Hindu-Buddhist rituals suggests that this type of vessel originated from India. Kendi have been used in Southeast Asia for at least a thousand years, as indicated by depictions on temple wall reliefs dating back to 9th century CE. They include locally made earthenware kendi as well as glazed wares from China, Japan, Thailand and Vietnam. These were part of the lively international trade in ceramics and other commodities that resulted in stylistic exchanges. Kendi were used for a wide range of purposes in addition to their primary function as a pouring and drinking container. In Southeast Asia, kendi were important as ritual pouring vessels used in weddings and other ceremonies. Miniature kendi were likely to have been medicine containers or toys. The West Asian tradition of tobacco smoking using water-pipes was also practiced in this region and kendi were adapted for this purpose.
