Adhyatman - Tempayan di Indonesia. Martavans in Indonesia

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Adhyatman/Lammers - Tempayan di Indonesia / Martavans in Indonesia.

Martavan is the name used to refer to a group of big stoneware or highly fired earthenware storage jars.

The name can be traced to the important entrepot port of Martaban in Burma.

Martaban was an active base from whence the Chinese wares were shipped to the Near East, India and Africa during the Sung and Ming dynasties and it was at Martaban that these big jars were first observed by Westerners.

Early Western writers on the porcelain trade route called a wide number of ceramic products 'Martavans' after the port.

The popular Indonesian name for martavans is tempayan, a name which originates from 'tempat tape' the containers in which the local fermenting rice or cassava is made.

Martabani jars have now become decorative pieces in the modern home and their value has soared as the factor of antiquity comes into play.

Beyond this, especially among the peoples of Sarawak and the Philippine Archipelago, some jars accredited with magical powers, have become priceless.

Many stories exist on the magical origin of the jars.

A particular jar may be effective in curing all sicknesses or only for a particular sickness.

Some collectors refrain from collecting martavans for fear of the living myths and legends connected with them.

The long tribal history belonging to them played an integral part in Dayak culture; with conversions to Christianity or Islam many of the traditions were lost and so for a time Jakarta was flooded with jars from Kalimantan and Sarawak.

Apparently if you 'tell' your jar how fortunate it is and how happy you are to have it, no adverse events will befall you.

Ceramic Society of Indonesia 1977 1ste, 123p., kannen en kruiken, rijk geill. in kleur en zw/w., Naam in boek. Hardcover +, d.j. In mooie staat.

Prachtig en zeldzaam standaardwerk over Aziatische tempayans / martavan-potten.

Een onmisbaar boek voor de serieuze verzamelaar van Chinees porselein, Aziatisch aardewerk en tribale kunst!