With upwards of 2,000 pieces, the Chalre Collection is one of the largest non-institutional ceramic arts collections in the Southeast Asia region.  It is also one of the most diverse comprising pottery styles used over the past 1,500 years.  

 

The focus of the Chalre Collection is Asian tradeware pottery -- in other words, ceramics that was traded throughout Southeast Asia.  Tradeware ceramics tell the story of how the peoples of Asia forged social and commercial ties with each other during ancient times.  Of the many thousands of traded items over the centuries, 

ceramics reigns supreme since it is the only one durable enough to survive into modern times and give us a record of Asia's past.