Gallery I

Martaban Jars-the KC Yat Collection

Family Heirlooms of the Borneo People

Recently Barbara Perry, curator of decorative arts at the Mint Museum of Art in Charlotte, NC, which has one of the country's major pottery collections said "Americans have broken out of the traditional concept of what ceramics should be. They don't always have to be utilitarian. They don't always have to be vessel form. They don't have to be small pieces of sculpture that you set on the mantle."

The island of Borneo featured prominently in the ancient maritime trade of ceramics in South East Asia as early as the 3rd and 4th century A.D. The Chinese became directly involved in the ceramics trade in South East Asia in the 10th century A.D. When the Yuan dynasty was established in the mid-13th century, the volume of trade to South East Asia was accelerated and ceramics was among the main export items. Vietnamese and Thai ceramics began to be produced at this time too. These wares were exported and competed with the Chinese ceramics.

The first Martaban jars were made in China. Some were shipped down the Irrawaddy river in Burma (Myamar) and then shipped out of the port of Martaban. Hence the name Martaban jars is used west of India. The term Gusi, east of India. However they are commonly called Martaban jars.

These Martaban jars have been found in the possession of almost all indigenous people of Sarawak (Malaysia) and Kalimantan (Indonesia) from the coastal Melanau to the upland Kelabit in Central Borneo. These objects, proudly displayed in the family rooms, are zealously guarded and treasured as valuable heirlooms to be handed down from generation to generation. The status and wealth of a person depends on how many of these objects he or she possesses.

In January 16 of 2001, a NOVA #2801 broadcast on PBS featured: Sultan's Lost Treasure. Marie-France Dupoizat (Ceramics Specialist) said "We know that the inland populations appreciated jars enormously. To such an extent that some jars were used for everyday purposes, whereas others had ritual uses. Some jars could be traded for 25 or even 30 buffalo. At the end of the 19th century, an English Raja returning to England kidnapped some jars to ensure that the tribal chiefs kept the peace in his absence."

Martaban jars have its utilitarian uses. The bigger vessels are used for water, salted fish and sago pellets. The smaller jars to keep medicine, oils, cosmetics, charms , as well as using them in weddings, healing and funeral ceremonies.

Mr. Yat, a Malaysian antique dealer, started collecting Martaban jars more than 25 years ago. The KC Yat collection is mostly from the Iban people. The Ibans show a preference for the larger jars, especially those decorated with dragon (naga) motifs which they use to store water, rice, salted fish and other commodities. They also use these large jars to brew their popular rice-wine tuak. The Orang Ulu, particularly the Lun Bawang and the Kelabit are especially fond of the more colorful ceramics of the later period.

The KC Yat collection of jars are at least mid to late 19th century old. Most originate from China or Vietnam. All are over 100 years old. Each piece has its own unique character and "personality." No two are alike. Most are rare especially the blue and green jars. Even the more common brown jars in the KC Yat collection are rarer because of their design-rabbits, elephants, flowers, Taoist Immortal-incised on the jars.





BL006 Height to 32" Monochrome blue. Turtle alternating with small ears at shoulder. Slightly longish tapering neck into an everted thin rim. Woodfired jar with dark blue black glaze slip. Late 19th century. Vietnamese or Southern Chinese.


















BRGL001 Height of 32" monochrome emerald green with incised dragons. The shoulder is decorated with a cloud collar alternating with a semi-circle string of buttons. The glaze stops well above the base leaving the unglazed body brownish in color. Probably used for water or food storage. Late 19th century. Vietnamese or Southern Chinese.


















BR0S001 Height of 23" jar with clay strip medallions, raised and rouletted bands, embossed with dragon and fireball. Glazed brown. Six elephant trunk handles on shoulder. Late 16th to 17th century. Vietnamese or Chinese.














BRL003 Height of 32" brown glazed jar with rabbit and elephant motifs at shoulder with a string of buttons at shoulder. Pie crust everted rim. Late 19th century. Vietnamese.