Cham Earthenware Pottery and Related Production in Mainland Southeast Asia

Tóm tắt

Cham earthenware pottery production, produced in Binh Duc in Binh Thuan Province and Bau Truc in Ninh Thuan Province, is part of approximately 185 sites actively producing earthenware in Mainland Southeast Asia, excluding Myanmar. Chamic (Cham-related) production is distinctive. In Vietnam, these two Cham communities share similar technologies with five communities in the Central Highlands and one in Nghe An Province. In addition, this technology is found in Kelantan, Malaysia, and in southern Laos.

Chamic production begins with a preform consisting of a clay mass on a flat support. The potter draws the side walls up from the base, adding coils to erect the upper portion. She finishes the rim and smooth exterior walls at this time. As with other Southeast Asian earthenware potters, Chamic potters must produce a round bottom in order to make this ware suitable for cooking, saving and cooling water, etc. Chamic potters produce a round bottom by pushing out the clay remaining in the bottom of the preform or scraping away both interior and exterior base and walls. In a few unusual cases, the potter works in reverse, shaping the top half of the vessel, inverting it on the mouth rim, and coiling the lower half onto that preform.