Pottery and earthenware
Shards of pottery excavated from caves in Kedah, Kelantan, Pahang, Perak, Perlis and Sarawak suggest that pottery-making was widespread as early as the Neolithic period (3000–2000 BCE). Early methods of pottery-making were the same as those used throughout the world; only the forms, motifs and firing methods differed. One of the oldest craft forms of human civilization, it is believed that pottery was discovered by ‘accident’ when early humans began coating the insides of woven baskets with clay before drying them in the sun to make waterproof containers. With the discovery of fire, it was found that by placing these containers over intense heat, the outer layer of fibre or other organic matter would burn away. All that remained was the hardened clay. Pottery went on to be used not just for storing, carrying and cooking, but also for religious rituals and ceremonies. Potters from the Malay and other indigenous communities did not traditionally use a potter’s wheel. Instead, they placed a lump of clay on square pieces of wood or metal plates lined with banana leaves to prevent sticking. This improvised base allowed them to rotate their clay pieces while they hand-moulded them to the desired shapes, after which the surfaces were decorated by beating with carved wooden paddles. The potter’s wheel was invented later, for moulding purposes, as were kilns—proper firing systems that allowed for better control of temperature
In Sabah and Sarawak, indigenous communities used basically the same pottery-making techniques as were used in the Peninsula, although motifs and purposes differed. It is believed that Chinese traders introduced sturdy glazed clay jars to coastal communities in Sarawak in the early 16th century. These huge jars with intricate dragon motifs were exchanged in barter trade and soon found a strong following in the local community, being highly prized as heirlooms. Under the British, Chinese and Indian immigrants who arrived to work in the tin mines and rubber plantations brought with them their knowledge of earthenware manufacture and design. The Chinese produced pottery with symbolic floral and fauna motifs, which can still be seen in modern examples of the craft. Almost all Chinese pottery is glazed either on the inside or the outside. The Indians, on the other hand, focused on making plain, unadorned water and cooking pots. Unlike the Malays, however, the Chinese and Indians used kilns to fire their pottery.
Through the years, technological improvements and a better understanding of the materials have both played an important role in the advancement of pottery, both in studio and industrial pottery. Many artisans working in the clay media in Malaysia today are pushing its boundaries and, through experimentation, are producing new ceramic forms and finding local and international markets for their products, though traditional forms remain popular.
