Figurine of Maternity
Thailand, 14th to 17th Century
The Brunei Darussalam Maritime Museum
This female statue, missing its head and legs, was excavated in 1979 at the Kota Batu archaeological park, an important archaeological site in Brunei Darussalam. The statue depicts a seated woman holding a baby, symbolising maternal care and protection. Such figures were placed outside homes where a woman was in childbirth to ward off evil spirits and ensure the safety of mother and child.
Dating to the 14th–17th centuries, this statue, crafted in the Si Satchanalai kiln in Sukhothai province, Thailand, it illustrates trade and cultural exchanges between the areas now known as Brunei and Thailand. Its presence in Kota Batu signifies both Brunei’s active participation in regional maritime trade and the transmission of artistic styles across Southeast Asia.
Figurine of Maternity has been displayed since 2015 in the Golden Age of Maritime Trade Gallery, Brunei Darussalam Maritime Museum.
Catalogue Number: KB A5 1-3-79
Material: Celadon Ceramics
Dimensions: Height 6.3 cm