Chinese export ceramic & porcelain to Southeast Asia: Song Yuan Ming Qing

27/07/2026

26/07/2026

Old Thai Bencharong Ceramics Decorating the Gateways of **Wat Mahathat**, Phetchaburi province

Wat Mahathat in Phetchaburi has been the city's principal temple since the Ayutthaya period and has undergone continuous restoration to the present day.

Based on the Bencharong (Chinese-made porcelain for Thai courts) decorating its gateways, I believe these pieces date to around AD 1800–1850. This assessment is based on the characteristics of the ceramic body, glaze, and color palette, which closely resemble Chinese export porcelains produced during the reigns of the Jiaqing and Daoguang Emperors of the Qing dynasty—corresponding to the reigns of King Rama I to King Rama III of Siam.

My sincere thanks to Ajarn Saenprasert Panniam, Ajarn Witoon Thanamas, and Ajarn Thanyakarn Wong-on for organizing this fascinating visit to study ancient ceramics in Phetchaburi.

And many thanks to **PP Watcharaphon** for the beautiful music accompanying this post:
https://youtu.be/bIZ6zHR0qOU?si=hSJ0BgkhrZouZBod

25/07/2026

Post no # 2
Another set of a large collection of Chinese export porcelain from Song, Yuan and Ming dynasties was recently offered for auction early this year at Caza Sikes in OH, USA.

Details of the collection:

“Shadow of the Dragon: A Private Collection of Early Chinese Ceramics” was exhibited in 1982 at the Columbus Museum of Art. The collection spans from Song, Yuan, and Ming dynasty ceramics, representing kiln works of particular interest to American collectors in the late 1960s and early 1970s, when the collection was assembled. The objects were acquired during multiple trips to Southeast Asia. Following the 1982 exhibition, the collection was returned to the owners and has remained intact for more than four decades.

I believe that the Southeast Asian countries that possessed significant quantities of high-quality Ming porcelain between 1950 and 1980 were Indonesia, Thailand, and the Philippines.
Literature: Aga-Oglu, Kamer. Shadow of the Dragon: Chinese Domestic and Trade Ceramics. Columbus Museum of Art, 1982

25/07/2026

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