As is already known, ceramics has a long and extensive history, especially in the Asian region where ceramics achieved a degree of technical superiority unattainable in the West until fairly recently in the historical perspective of things. Throughout Asia China was by far and above the most superior in all things ceramic. Their clay was better, more white, and harder than that of any other in the region. In regards to their celadon ware Chinese celadon was far superior to Japanese, Korean, and Thai celadon. However, amongst the contenders, Japan, Korea, and Siam that is, it is Thai celadon whose role is so valued throaughout Southeast Asia.

As ceramics developed from rough, rudimentary vessels to more advances and stylized wares glazes began develope as well. Glaze was first formed from wood ash deposited on the wares during firing. Potters recognized this and began to seek after is effect eventually working down to a refined process of producing a consistently reliable ash glaze.

Celadon ware originating in China, was originally intended as an imitation of jade stone; although the exact date or period of its development is uncertain. In fact the very term Celadon is ambiguous. What exactly is a Celadon? Celadon is generally the name given to a color range of subtle green to blue grey stoneware or porcelain glazes which take their color from iron in the glaze. (Fournier 47) The origin of the term Celadon is some what vague as it is certainly not Chinese in origin. The Thai Celadon Company asserts the name comes from a Sanskrit word for ‘green.’ (http://www.chiangmai-online.com/celadons.html) The most interesting story however is that the name is derived from a character, the shepherd Celadon, who always wore green clothes, in one of the plays written by Honore d’Urfe a French playwright of the seventeenth-century. (Gompertz 19) It was first applied to the Chinese wares made at the Lung-ch’uan potteries in Chekiang during the Sung and Ming periods,” and respectively know as Yuen ware. (Gompertz 13) Despite this narrow definition it can truly be said that Celadon has been made in China for well over two thousand years.

Now enter Siam. Earthenware was by far the most prominent form of ceramic in Thailand during the pre-Mon Dvaravati and Mon Haripoonshai Kingdoms; however, stoneware and porcelain began to be introduced in the 10th century. (http://www.infothai.com/wtcmcr/thstone.htm) At the end of the thirteenth century, in the years 1296 and six years later in 1300, King Khamheng of Siam visited the Yuen court in Peiking. So impressed was he with the beauty of the Chinese celadons that he was able to convince the Emperor to allow him to take back several potters to Siam when he returned. (Gompertz 87)

Since then, after the introduction of Chinese methods, ceramics were produced in Sukhotai. In the same time, a pottery of higher quality was gradually produced at Sawankalok closely resembling those of the great Chinese center of Lung-ch’uan in Chekiang Province. (Gompertz 87). The green beautiful glaze on the pottery named Celadon became very popular.

Around the middle of the 15th century, ceramics industries started in various parts of Northern Thailand, especially in Chieng Mai - where Celadon has grown and become the best known among the other types of ceramics. (http://www.chiangmai-online.com/baancel/)

The variety, quality and scale of production became so extensive that Sawankalok wares became a staple export. As the scale of production grew demand for the high quality wares outside of Thailand caused the export industry to grow ever larger and eventually the majority of the ware was produced entirely for export. Practically one of the only uses of celadon inside Siam was for Buddhist and Hindu temple structures and fittings. (http://www.infothai.com/wtcmcr/thstone.htm) As a result of this exportation the largest and most extensive collections of Thai celadon are in Indonesia and the Philippines, not in Thailand. (Gompertz 88)

The celadon of Thailand found a great demand in Southeast Asia especially in the 15th century when the Chinese were undergoing their period of recurrent closures to the outside world when Chinese makers were prohibited from selling to the outside world. (http://www.infothai.com/wtcmcr/thstone.htm) As earthenware was the dominant ceramic in Southeast Asia prior to the introduction of Thai celadon not only was the more durable ware more practical for food storage and as serving dishes, but value was also found in the magical ring of the stoneware which aided the summoning of spirits thus launching the status of the vassals to ritual level. (Gompertz 90)

Because of this demand for the magical wares of Sawankalok, export may have attained such levels so as to disconcert the Chinese over having been directly responsible for its development. We are then left with the mysteriously sudden termination of the Sawankalok industry evidenced by the discovery of kilns filled with unfinished wares. What we are to ascertain from this is unknown; either the potters fled the scene or were evicted on short notice. The rise of Chinese blue and white porcelain may also have contributed to the abandonment of the Thai industry. (Gompertz 91)

By looking a little deeper into the history of Thailand however, we can see that the abandonment of the kiln sites coincides with the invasion of Thailand from Burma. As was customary during that time the Burmese captured all the Thai artisans and took them to back to Burma as slaves causing the disappearance of many of the Thai arts and crafts forever. Celadon, though, was loved by the Burmese who continued the tradition. The Thai ousted the Burmese in the 18th and 19th century bringing celadon back to Thailand at the beginning of the 20th century with their immigration to the Chieng Mai area. (http://www.infothai.com/wtcmcr/thstone.htm)

In this contemporary era Thai celadon strives not just to mimick the traditional styles, but to branch out in both glazes and functional style proving that the ten centuries of development behind Thai celadon only enriches the current body of work. Throughout the entire history of Thai celadon before, during and after the Burmese occupation Thai celadon has never lost the expressiveness, and vitality which made it a ceramic staple in Southeast Asia.

Appendix of formulae and batch recipes

Of celadon in general Fournier tells us that from 0.5% to 2.0% is added to a transparent base and applied fairly thickly to maintain the ferrous state of the iron during cooling. He goes on to say the slight opacity of celadon is due to microscopic bubbles in the glaze. He follows Cardews suggestion of and RO of 0.25-0.45 KNaO, and 0.55-0.75 CaO, with almost no magnesia. Lewis-Evans quoted seger cone 3 formula is given as:

K2O 0.3 Al2O3 0.45 SiO2 4.0
CaO 0.7 Fe2O3 0.05

which is translated in to the following batch:

China Clay 7.5
Potash Feldspar 45.0
Whiting 17.5
Quartz 27.5
Ferric Oxide 2.5