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Pouring vessel (kendi)
Pouring vessel (kendi)

Pouring vessel (kendi)

Place of OriginSaga prefecture, Japan
Dateapprox. 1680-1720
PeriodEdo period (1615-1868)
MaterialsPorcelain with cobalt pigment under clear glaze
DimensionsH. 8 1/2 in x W. 6 3/4 in x D. 6 1/4 in, H. 21.6 cm x W. 17 cm x D. 15.9 cm
Credit LineGift of the Asian Art Museum Foundation
Object numberB67P56
DepartmentJapanese Art
ClassificationsCeramics
On View
Not on view
More Information

Kundika and Kendi

The kundika, as it is called in the classical language of northern India, is a type of vessel made in a variety of materials and found in many parts of Asia. The defining characteristic of these vessels is that they have a mouth and a spout but no separate handle.

The kendi (a Malay/Indonesian term) is a variation of the kundika; usually of rather squat proportions and made of ceramic, kendi were widely used in Southeast Asia. The demand for these vessels in Indonesia was so great that they were produced in China, Japan, Thailand, and Vietnam and exported to Indonesia.