| Abstract: |
The Bang Rachan or Mae Nam Noi kilns are ancient kilns located at Bang Rachan district, Singburi province in central Thailand. These kilns produced various types of ceramics from the 15th century up to the end of the Ayutthaya Kingdom period in 1767. Bang Rachan wares have mostly been discovered in the contexts of ancient towns, trade centres, shipwrecks and burials. The technology of Bang Rachan kilns and their characteristics are similar to kilns of the Si Satchanalai district, Sukothai province in northern Thailand. Based on a comparative study with associated finds from shipwrecks of the Khram, Nanyang, Royal Nanhai, Samui, Brunei, Lena Shoal, Si Chang I and III, Klang-Ao (Australia Tide), Pattaya, Singtai, Kra, Don Hai, Kradat, Hoi An and Witte Leeuw, Bang Rachan wares can be categorized in three different periods--early, middle, and late. The early period is dated to around the 15th and 16th centuries. The only types of wares from Bang Rachan at this time consisted of glazed and unglazed jars in several sizes with four handles. The middle period dates to around the 16th century and consisted of glazed and unglazed jars in several sizes with four handles. They also included types such as stoneware bottles with two handles and without handles, basins, jarlets, mortars, cups and lids. The late period, dated to around 17th and 18th centuries, continue on from the middle period but are associated with Kraak porcelain made in China during the reign of Wanli Emperor of the Ming Dynasty around 17th century and European wares that date from 18th to 19th centuries. Bang Rachan wares were produced and used as kitchen utensils, export products, storage containers and even burial jars, especially jars used in towns and trade centres of the Ayutthaya Kingdom. They were also exported to the Southeast Asian market and even as far as overseas to Philippines, Japan, Australia, Africa and Portugal.
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