Ancient kiln sites
Myanmar has a long tradition in glazed ceramics, some that have disappeared during the many centuries of the past. Recent findings indicates that the history of the glazed ceramics including Celadon could be as early as the Sth century AD.
The discovery in 1987 of the first cross- draft glazed ceramic kiln of Myanmar at Lagumbyee, an old Pyu town northwest of Yangon, marked watershed in the discovery of old kiln sites that firmly established this ancient craft. After this discovery, many more ancient kiln-sites were founded at Myaungmya (Myohaung), Twante, Ngaputaw, Mrauk-U, Pathein (Thaletkhwar, Ngwepark, Thebyu), Ho-nar (Moung-Kung) etc.
A large numberofglazed wares and shards of historical and cultural significance were retrieved from these ancient kiln-sites, and they unfo'ded many features of the glazed ceramic tradition including one of importance, the potter-marks.
When we first noticed marks made by potters on the base of some of the glazed ceramic wares, their historical importance scarcely entered into our conscious thought. This was quite understandable since at that time the amount of glazed ware bearing potter-marks were rather few and kiln-sites possessing such glazed ware were also scanty.
However, in time we had accumulated a considerable stock of ancient glazed ware with potter-marks from different kiln-sites, and our perception of the importance of these marks was greatly enhanced; impelling us for in-depth study of these historic evidence.
Groslier(1981) reported on potter-marks found on the green-glazed wares (known as early Kulen wares) from Buriram kiln dating 9th -14th century (presently Northeast of Thai and formerly ancient Khmer), indicating some 65 variations composing one to four incised strokes of parallel lines, crossed lines, uneven triangles or any number of variations. It was presumed that the individual potter marked his pots so they could be identified after a communal firing (Brown 2000 pg 50).
Shaw and Penth (1987) reported that ceramic wares and shards, all are surface finds from the northern Thai (or Lan Na) kilns of Kalong complex, and also those from the Tak Hilltop Burial Sites in the Ma- Tun-Om K6i area had been found with potter-marks. In their study they also included some glazed wares with potter-marks from the kilns of sukhothai for purposes of comparison.
Out of a total number of 86 glazed pieces it could be generally divided into two groups: (a) The marks that are incised (Lan Na 39, Sukkothai 3) (b) The marks that are painted (Lan Na 38, sukhothai 6).
Based on the samples they studied, shaw and Penth made the followings
comments:
-Although the potter-marks could not disclose much of the history it serves to see the life of these ancient craftsmen.
-All the letters of the potters marks are in the Thai language
-Since not one Chinese character has been found from the potters marks, it could possibly be said that they were not Chinese.
Glazed wares with potter-marks: the one on the top right is serial number 4 of Table(7 ) collected from the ancient kilns of U Chit-Pu compound, Twante.
The date of the potter-marks probably could not be older than about 1400 AD and not later than about 1850 AD. |
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From detailed study of potter-marks on glazed wares It is quite apparent that these marks could be a useful aid for understanding some of the historic and cultural aspect of the community. As we had collected a considerable amount of glazed shards (up to date 432 pieces) with potter-marks from Twante, Pegu, Myaungmya, Pathein etc. we systematically investigated their historic significance.
From our present collection of shards with potter-marks the majority are incised marks while only two shards are painted ones. Therefore only the shards with incised marks (i.e. 430 pieces) were considered.
Among the incised marks there are straight lines, curves, dots and some which could be read as letters. The majority are straight and curved lines (about 49%) and those in the form of letters are the second largest (about 41 %). The rest (i.e. 10%) are dots and circles incised deeply into the surface. Most of the shards were found in Twante, that is from the banks of Twante canal, whereas a few were found from other ancient kiln-sites such as Shan-taw-galay, U Chit-Pu compound, U Kalar Gyi compound, U Hla Kyi compound etc.
It is rather difficult to understand the meaning of the straight and curve lines which are the largest number in the incised group. Possibly these could be th~ marks of the individual potter to indicate ownership so they could be identified after a communal firing. However there are also more sophisticated marks of lines and curves which could have significant meaning other than the simple signatory ones.
Hence, an analysis of the shape and form of these lines and curves was made and a catalogue was prepared for later reference. For example, from the ancient kiln-site at Shan-taw-galay village in Twante, a large Celadon green ware plate has a potter-mark on the base of four straight lines diverging from one point.
It is probable that this pattern of diverging lines could be the trade-mark of this particular kiln-site. If other glazed wares having a similar mark of four diverging lines were found, then they could be linked to the Celadon plate of the Shan-taw-galay kiln-site.
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Compared to the lines and curves group, it is more likely that the letter group of potter-mark would be easier to elucidate. The following is the study of the letter group of potter-marks.
It is rather difficult to write a letter on the surface of glazed ware. Sharpened bamboo sticks or thinly sliced bamboo (Hnee) are mainly used to scratch on the wet surface of the earthen ware before firing. Letters written with such awkward writing materials would look quite different from the regular writings. When the production rate was high the potter had to write hastily and thus misshapen, irregular and faint letters were inevitably generated. Therefore, the letter type potter- marks were usually interpreted to the nearest configuration of the alphabet believed to be used in the ancient Myanmar Language.
During the initial phase of our research work, our attempt to match the letter type potter-marks with ancient Myanmar alphabets was of little avail. Only very few matched while the majority of the potter- marks are out of the scope of the stylistic nature of Myanmar alphabets.
The use of ancient Myanmar alphabets for matching is based on the notion that the earliest date of glazed ceramic production in Myanmar was, according to Dr. Than Tun ( 1972), 11 th century AD or referring to the Nga Kwe Nadaung Pagoda of Bagan, possibly 9th century AD. (Aung Kyaing 1999). These periods have influenced us to believe that the potters of that time would possibly use Myanmar alphabets. However, when it was unveiled that
the history of glazed ceramic technology in Myanmar could be traced as far back as 5th century AD (Tyn 2003,2005), we switched our thought to the "Pyu" period and tried to learn the Pyu alphabet in order to match the potter- marks with it. (T.han Swe 1992; Tha Myat 1963)
Example of potter-marks which could be interperted in terms of the Pyu alphabets
Table I. Matching of Pottcr-marb with pyu Alpbabets
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When we matched the potter-marks with the Pyu alphabets, we found that the majority of the potter-marks could be interpreted in terms of the Pyu alphabets. Some of the samples from the letter type potter-marks are presented in Table (1 ).
It can be seen clearly from Table (1) that the potter-marks bear close-resemblance to that of the Pyu alphabet. Therefore it could be deduced that Twante, where the majority of the potter-marks were found, could possibly be the centre for ceramic since the time of the Pyu. The glazed wares of serial number (4) and (5) from Table (1) collected from the ancient kilns of U Chit-Pu compound, in Twante, clearly demonstrate that they are of Myanmar origin.
Although Shaw and Penth commented that the potter-marks could not disclose a great deal of history, we can safely deduce an important fact from the close-study of our collection of Myanamr potter-marks of the letter type, that there was glazed ceramic production at Twante as early as 5th century AD (i.e Pyu period) affirming the same concept we had put forward previously (Tyn 2003). Moreover, the recent findings of the Buddha images in Takuntaing Village, Twante, dating about 5th century AD where one of the images is covered with green glaze and the fact that these images were supposed to be made in Twante (Tyn, 2005-Win Maung 2005) supports the hypothesis that the glaze ware technology ofTwante could have started since the 5th century AD.
There is also additional evidence from the Sanskrit stone inscription of the 7th century AD, which mentions that there were diplomatic connections between Srikshetra and Kalasapura (the City of Pots) (Aung Thaw 1972).
Therefore the Twante region, where an enormous number of ancient kilns that mostly produced celadon were recently discovered, could very likely be the Kalasapura of this inscription. |
 
Lead-tin based Green and White glazed ware with potter-mark |
Hence the Pyu alphabets of the potter Tyn, M.T. (2005) "Ho-Nar Kilns" Journal marks presented here confirms that ofMyanmar Academy of Arts &Science, the history of the glazed ceramics of Myanmar Voi. Ill, No.6, pg 51-63.could be as early as the 5th century AD.
(Abridged from Tyn 2006) |
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