Study on the Decorative Patterns and Motifs of Blue and White Porcelain Unearthed in Malacca City

Blue and white porcelain is the principal category of artifacts unearthed in Malacca City, characterised by a wide range of decorative motifs. From the perspective of art anthropology, ceramics function not only as utilitarian commodities for daily life but also as cultural carriers that reflect human thoughts, aesthetic preferences, and socio-political ideologies embedded in specific historical contexts. As such, the interpretation of decorative motifs is essential for uncovering processes of cultural exchange, hybridity, and transmission. This study examines the decorative motifs found on blue and white porcelain recovered from archaeological contexts in Malacca City. Employing iconographic analysis, this research categorises and interprets key visual themes, while comparative analysis is applied to establish stylistic and chronological parallels with blue and white ceramics from shipwreck assemblages and kiln sites in China. The analysis reveals that the majority of the specimens originate from the late Ming and early Qing dynasties, with a concentration in the Jiajing and Wanli periods. Moreover, the motifs exhibit strong influences from Islamic geometric and floral patterns, Chinese literati painting traditions, and both Taoist and Buddhist religious symbolism. These findings suggest that the decorative schemes of Malacca’s blue and white porcelain were shaped by complex transregional artistic interactions, reflecting the vibrant cultural entanglements facilitated by maritime trade networks. This study contributes to the understanding of how material culture—especially decorative motifs—can serve as visual records of cross-cultural encounters, and highlights the role of export ceramics as active agents in the circulation of artistic and ideological traditions across maritime Asia.