RE-COLLECTIONS OF AN OLD POTTER: Part One The Hongkong Bark of Canada has recently purchased a major assemblage of Asian Ceramics. A Potter's Choice, (he Jean Macicaly Fohrni Collection (s unique in Canada for the diversity of its origins, and for its purpose as a teaching tool, Consisting of close to 600 pleces, # wes carefully assembled aver a period of tawerifiyj-orue years. The geographic range includes examples of Persian, Khmer, Thai, Vietnamese, Philippine, Japanese amd Chinese wares, the majority being Chinese. Chranolagically, the rarage is Jrom the 2nd Milentum B.C. fo A.D, igth Century. Through a loan agreement with the Vancouver Museum's new Asian Studies Department under drs, Paula Swot, the wares will continue to be made ainiieble to scholars and collectors for research. Beginning September 24, orAsian Gallery ull be open to the public at the Vancouver Museum. Jean Fahri will continue to be aeseciated with the collection. Objects from this collection have been included in some important exhibitions such as “The Talking Jars” [1971]; | “Within the Potter's House" (1976!, bath held in the Vancouver Museum, ancl ‘Ceramics of Mainland Seuthenst Asia®, organized by Barny TH at the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria in ]958. Cateloques of those exhibitions one still available. ‘June of 19688 was epent in Vancouver lmimersed in an unusual workshop led by the potter Harry Davia cf New Zealand. in company with such ceramic notables as Tam Irving and Don Hutchinson, a doen of us gathered local clays, washed ashes, crushed rocks, and produced from the fruits of our labours a wild assortment of bodies and glazes. Most were ghastly; a few held promise; and others have evolved into the fine ollspot tenmokus, ctladons and whitewares now 60 familiar in British Columbia, The experience left us all with a healthy reapect for early potters, who, using purely empirical means, progressed over several millenia from the production of simple earthenware to the fine porcelains of Imperial China. September. 1990 - Hand-pinched Ewer, joined at base, waist and mack. S.F. Asia, lath Century The course over, [rushed outand bought a new Shimpo wheel. a Coast Ceramic kiln, and a ten of Westweed porcelain from California; then settled happlly to a summer of creativity. Sone days later my husband announced that he had been chosen to initiate a C_A.R-E, Med- ico program for training orthopedic surgeons in Indonesia, and had offered my services as surgical nurse, The summer was spent in the V.G.H. operat- ing theatre relearming a nearly forgotten profession! Subsequent months were to me both fearsome and fascinating. Indonesia was al the time just recover- ing from a massive purge of commu nists, Inlowing their War of Indepenct- ence from the Dratch, and years of severe shortage of supplies. | made a pact with the charming director of the hospital that [ would instruct his nurses and scrub fer all of our surgery. if he would provide me with car and driver and a List of local crafiemen. should anything in- terrupt our operating achedule. To my delight [ was rewarded with three days of touring craft villages in central and western Java, some of which spe- clalized in the making of hand written batik sarongs, or hain soqa, using tradi- onal indigo and brown dyes, Others produced coll built earthenware cook- ing vessels, water jars, and hibachts for melting bathk wax. Large bisqued jars were transported either tied to paniers By Jean Fahmi en ellher side of a bicycle, or trotted about dangling casually from both ends of bamboo poles slung over a shoulder! Village markets, surprisingly. offered a puzzling array of glazed porcelains. Following dinner one evening alt the home of the American Embassy doctor, ome of the porcelain ‘bicycle boys' was invited in te display his wares. On the livingroom floor he carefully unwrapped a large batiked cotton square lo reveal a dozen or sosmall plates with underglaze cobalt designs, some small vases. a variety of smal) porcelain boxes, and several large celadon dishes. | acquired that evening my first pieces of Chinese trade porcelain—a hand bullt ewer with a drippy brown glaze for orchids, and a square green-glazed Ming box to hold the safety pins from my uniform! The return through Hong Kong was memorable for several reasons: the hours spent with the energetic and very knowi- edgrable ry (now Lady) Fung: being intreduced by her to the magnificent Fung Ping Shang collection of Chinese porcelains, to the now renowned cura- tor James Watt; and to the Orlental Ceramic Society of Hong Kong, af which fam still a member. [ resolved to learn more of the history of Asian ceramics; In Vaneouver | metwith Dr. C. Chan Gunn, joined the Canadian Soctety for Asian Arts, and embarked on a study program which continues.” Look in Gotober for Recollections: Port Two Oe Page &