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8-416: The society was the inspiration of William Willetts who gathered together a small group of established collectors and ceramic enthusiasts including George S. Cook, Frank Hickley, Pamela Hickley, Helen Ling , Norma Lu, Margaretha Ratnam, Trevor Rutter, Jo Rutter, C. K. Sng, Lu Sinclair, Don Sinclair, Y. H. (Mathew) Wong, and Adrian Zecha . Its first elected president was Helen Ling. She had many associates in

16-844: A catalogue and most recently, a 50th anniversary commemorative exhibition (2019) held at the Singapore National Library when the society celebrated its 50th anniversary. The society, which is based in Singapore, is open to all those interested in ceramics and particularly Southeast Asian ceramics and attracts scholars and collectors alike from around the world. It holds monthly meetings and lectures via ZOOM, participates in educational workshops, and arranges both local and overseas study trips as well as handling sessions for its Singapore-based members. The categories of membership include local, overseas and students. Many of its members are known experts in their fields and their publications are listed on

24-800: A stir amongst the oriental ceramic cognoscenti.” Furthermore, that "the Society inspired a generation of younger scholars and stimulated the interest of government archaeological departments throughout Southeast Asia.” As a consequence, ceramic societies were to emerge in ensuing years in West Malaysia, Jakarta, Manila and Hong Kong. Other exhibitions followed: Chinese White Wares (1973), Chinese Blue & White Ceramics (1973), Chinese Celadons (1979), Khmer Ceramics 9th–14th Century (1981), Vietnamese Ceramics (1982), Song Ceramics (1983), Han Dynasty Ceramics (1991), Ceramics in Scholarly Taste (1992), each accompanied by

32-834: The Asian ceramics world." When the decision was made to close the National University of Singapore's art museum in 1972, Willetts relocated to Kuala Lumpur where he served as Curator of the Muzium Seni Asia, the Museum of the Arts of Asia, University of Malaya. He died in the Universiti Malaya Hospital in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on 29 January 1995 at the age of 76. His scholarly writing included: This biography article of

40-503: The art world including the designer Jim Thompson ; it was from the Lings' bungalow that Thompson disappeared in March 1967. The review by Henry D. Ginsburg singled out the uniqueness of their first publication and Willetts' appreciation of the aesthetic qualities of these previously unsung artefacts of the Asian ceramics world: "the world has been slow to recognize their quality." Its members include

48-626: The founding of the Southeast Asian Ceramic Society . He curated the society's first exhibition on Southeast Asian ceramics, which showcased ceramics from both the museum as well as members' collections, and authored the accompanying catalogue. The catalogue won the praise of Henry D. Ginsburg who reviewed it in the Journal of the Siam Society , noting Willetts' "appreciation of the aesthetic qualities of these previously unsung artefacts of

56-579: The region's leading archaeologists. Wrecks such as the Turiang (a 14–16th century wreck) found by Sten Sjøstrand, whose ceramic cargo was studied by fellow member Roxanna Brown , have contributed to our knowledge of trade in Southeast Asia. Long-time member John Miksic was awarded Singapore's inaugural History Prize in 2018. The historian John Guy noted that this “presentation of the then little known ceramic tradition of Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam caused

64-453: The society's website. William Willetts (art historian) William Young Willetts (28 November 1918, Purton Stoke – 30 January 1995, Kuala Lumpur ) was a British scholar of South-East Asian art studies who wrote several books and served as curator of the National University of Singapore art museum from 1963 to 1972. During his years in Singapore, he was the impetus behind the gathering of ceramic collectors and artists that led to

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