Large Antique Glazed Martaban Jar

Thai or Southeast Asian Martaban-type jar, possibly Sawankhalok production (15th–16th century).

The piece is around 73 cm high, dark brown/black glaze, with four lug handles and an impressed circular stamp beneath one handle.

These huge storage jars were named after the town of Martaban in Burma. It was an hugely important port on the trading routes. Designed to be very robust. It would have been filled with precious cargo. Loop handles through which a rope could be passed to secure them to the deck of the ship or they could be tethered to each other for stability