A Thousand Years of Stoneware Jars in the Philippines (PRE-ORDER)

Large quantities of old Asian jars form part of public and private art and antique collections in the Philippines. Called storage jars “martaban” by the connoisseur, they are commonly known as “gusi” or “tapayan” by native peoples of the Philippines who continue to use them in the hinterland in the ritual context.

Originally fashioned as utilitarian vessels, jars were containers of water, wine, pickled foodstuff, and other provisions for the ship’s crew during the long sea voyages from China to various ports beyond. A keen interest in jars developed in Southeast Asia and they eventually became trade items in themselves.

The book contains a collection of three essays on the subject of stoneware jars: the introduction provides a comparative picture of jar types found in the Philippines and the rest of Southeast Asia; the history and trade essay is an examination of historical facts relevant to the study of jars as well as trading routes and diverse nationalities involved in this trade into the archipelago; and the third essay is an ethnographic study of the role of jars in Philippine rituals.

Authors: Cynthia O. Valdes; Kerry Nguyen Long & Artemio C. Barbosa
Publisher: Jar Collectors (Philippines) with the support of Eugenio Lopez Foundation Inc. and in cooperation with the National Museum and the Oriental Ceramic Society of the Philippines
Published: 1992
Pages: 199 pages
Language: English

❗️NOTE❗️:

THIS IS A ❗️PRE-ORDER ITEM❗️PRODUCT WILL BE SHIPPED IN THE END OF AUGUST-SEPTEMBER.

 If you are ordering an item that is currently in stock in the same order, the order will be held until the pre-ordered book or item arrives from the Philippines. Shipping of pre-ordered items from our partners in the Philippines to New York are scheduled to take place in May, August and November 2026 ONLY.

Once pre-ordered items ship and arrive from the Philippines to New York, items will be dispatched from New York to their final destination.

Due to the gas situation worldwide and especially in the Philippines, shipping of pre-ordered items are delayed and shipping from the Philippines has been set to ease our partner's in the Philippines.

Shipping during these 3 months for 2026 also allow our partnered local artisans from the Philippines such as our weavers, anitu sculptors, and brass pre-colonial gold replica jewelry pieces, the time needed they need to work on your one of a kind, handmade pieces. 

These pieces are all handmade by our local partners and traditional artisans, not mass produced. If you want a ready made and in stock clothing piece, figure, ceramic, or jewelry piece, if we have any available in stock and on hand, you purchase those. Every shipment from the Philippines we do order extra's to put up on the shop for those who want to keep an eye out for in stock items. 

❗️CURRENT SHIPPING❗️

If you are going to be pre-ordering an item and ordering an in stock item, two separate orders must be placed to guarantee arrival of in stock products within 2-3 weeks.

Our shipping days for in-stock items from New York are currently only being shipped at the beginning and end of each month. This allows time for packing and shipping items. Also due to the rising gas prices, we have decided to cut back on shipping days to make it easier on ourselves (two person team) to pack and deliver items to the Post Office 2x a month.