The piece is a very unusual example of figurative ceramics made for the Indonesian market. It is expressively modelled and has finely painted features in various shades of cobalt blue glaze. The grotesque features and attributes such as the skirt wrap (kain panjang) and keris worn at the back of the waist, likely refer to a servant-clown character associated with the Javanese court. Such characters, known as Panakawan, feature prominently in the performing arts of Java.

History of the Object

This kneeling figure is a unique example of wares made in North Vietnam during the 15th and 16th centuries. It was reportedly retrieved from the Hoi An cargo - a large cargo of 150,000 export wares which was salvaged from a 15th century shipwreck in and auctioned in 2000. Unique pieces such as this indicate that high quality wares were made for export at this time.