Although I am not certain this relates to Martaban jars, the following notes
from this article might be of interest to the room:

Faye-Cooper Cole
1912 "Chinese Pottery In The Philippines," Field Museum of Natural History
Publication 16. Anthropological Series.Vol.XII, Number 1.

The article reviews the development of European trade in Asian ceramics in
teh 16th century. There is interesting material on Magellan's 1521 eating
experience, most relevant is a large jug used to hold wine (page 4). In
another account of May 8, 1570, Alvarado witnessed Mindoro islanders with
earthenware jars and crockery. The article outlines the development of trade
in the Philippines and trade relations with China, Borneo, Maluco, Malaca,
Cambodia, Japan and other places.

Perhaps of great relevance to scholars interested in those large Asian
storage jars found on the decks of Manilla Galleons, Cole reported the
Spanish mineded Sung Dynasty (960-1278)  graveyards for porcelain and storage
jars. This included burials in large jars. Those burial jars made it into
this 17th and 18th trade to New Spain and beyond.

In addition to grave jars, the Spanish also acquired jars of great spiritual
value to the native people. Cole related an interesting piece of oral history
from an informant named Cibildo of Domayco, "...a wonderful jar called
'Magsawi.' that "talked" and was married to a female jar owned by the
Tinguian of Ilocos Norte. A small jar at San Quintin, Abra, was said to be a
child of this union and partook of many of its parents" page 14 (said to be
teh spirits of Kaboni'an). Cole related that porcelain plates were used by
mediums to summon spirits and were never willingly sold, although Spanish
merchants found ways to take them for the trade.

Cole believed (page 19) these "Dragon jars" were Sung Dynasty from Borneo
cemeteries. She reported glazed dragon jars were made near Hunan onthe Siang
River in Ch'ang-sha. She reported informants said dragons mean "the priest
has passed the gate of perception and reached the state of perfection (page
20)." The Philippine dragon jars were exported from Chao-K'ing, Fukien and
Kwantung and were often called Kwang yao, which means Kwangtung pottery.
Chinese also received those jars and used them for water.

Ron May
Legacy 106, Inc.