Female Ceramic Figurine

Si Satchanalai, circa 15th century CE

The National Maritime Museum, Thailand

Recovered from the Klang Aow shipwreck, located at a depth of 70 metres deep in the Gulf of Siam, this female figurine is one of two similar figures found during an illegal salvaging operation in 1992. Following the discovery, the Thai government, through the Fine Arts Department, registered and legally protected the artefacts. 
 

Produced at the Si Satchanalai kiln in Sukhothai province, northern Thailand, this figurine illustrates the rise of mass ceramic production in Siam between the 14th and 17th  centuries, a period when ceramics became a major commodity in maritime trade. The craftsmanship of these figurines reflects Siam’s vital role in connecting regional trade networks across Southeast Asia.
 

The popularity of female figurines among consumers signifies the prominent role of women in maritime trade, while the figurine's design serves as a testament to the cultural practices of the time.

Initially housed at the Kanchanaphisek National Museum in Pathumthani, the figurines were transferred to the National Maritime Museum in Chanthaburi in 2000 where they remain to this day.