Kendi c. 6th - 7th century

ceramic

food illustration

product design photgrpaphy

stoneware

wash background

prop product design

coloured pencil

ceramic

watercolour bleed

watercolour illustration

watercolor

This unglazed, earthenware vessel, known as a "kendi", is a testament to ancient Indonesian craftsmanship. Dating back to the 6th-7th centuries, this example from the Minneapolis Institute of Art showcases the distinct rounded body, a wide mouth, and a single spout characteristic of its design. The red-painted lines that encircle the vessel add a subtle visual accent, indicating a keen artistic sensibility. The "kendi" was traditionally used for holding and pouring liquids, particularly water, a vital element in daily life.

Comments

minneapolisinstituteofart about 1 year ago

⋮

This seemingly simple, finely potted kendi (derived from the Sanskrit for waterpot) marks a critical juncture in the broader history of Southeast Asia. The bulbous vessel form is of Indian origin, the result of Indian traders who settled throughout Southeast Asia—a place known as the “Land of Gold” in the 100s–400s CE. With them came Brahman (Hindu) and Buddhist priests, who over time integrated themselves into local power structures, yielding new models of regional statehood with elaborate religious underpinnings. This unglazed vessel—whose form would become ubiquitous in Southeast Asia—was produced just prior to the Khmer Empire (802–1437 CE), a powerful kingdom responsible for many works in this gallery.