khmer wine jar 12th century

Khmer glazed storage jar, Cambodia.

Made in Cambodia, 12th century.

This incised and glazed storage jar was made in Cambodia during the 12th century and probably once held wine. In a temple relief of that era at Banteay Chmar in northern Cambodia, people are shown drinking from a similar jar through straws, while in an adjacent panel drunken dancers cavort. Khmer potters began producing dark-glazed wares like this in the 11th century, but the finest were not made until the mid 12th century, contemporary with the building of Angkor Wat. The Khmer potters at Angkor produced distinctive vessels for their own use, often inspired by Indian forms and with a limited range of glazes disseminated from China. These included both architectural and utilitarian wares, such as this storage jar. However, the Khmers came to prefer Chinese trade ceramics for general household use and by the 13th century their glazed ceramics industry was in decline. Christina Sumner, curatorial research, November 2018