Jomon Pottery

of Ancient

Japan

c. 12,000 -300 BC

Metropolitan Art Museum, New York

Storage jarEarthenware

unglazedH. 27 ½”

Metropolitan Art Museum, NYC

All Jomon pots were made by hand, without the aid of a wheel, the potter building up the vessel from the bottom with coil upon coil of soft clay.

As in all other Neolithic cultures, women produced these early potteries. The clay was mixed with a variety of adhesive materials, including mica, lead, fibers, and crushed shells.

http://earlywomenmasters.net/masters/jomon/mma_jomonpot.html

After the vessel was formed, tools were used to smooth both the outer and interior surfaces. When completely dry, it was fired in an outdoor bonfire at a temperature of no more than about 900° C.

Metropolitan Art Museum, New York

Jomon ceramics may have begun in imitation of reed baskets.

Some Jomon pots have pointed bottoms. Judging from the burn marks along the sides, they must have been planted into soft earth or sand, then used for cooking.

Still other early vessels were crafted with straight sides and flat bottoms for storage as well as cooking and eventually became the norm.

Often vessels were decorated with patterns made by pressing cord onto the damp clay (jomon means "cord markings").

Tokyo National Museum

Jomon period clay figurines, called dogu (pronounced dough-goo).

There are many theories on what they were used for, such as a talisman for good health or safe childbirth. Many were excavated in fragments so it is believed that after the wish was fulfilled, the dogu was broken and thrown away: that's where many were discovered.

Suntory Museum, Japan

Another theory is that these were goddesses to whom Jomon people prayed for food and health. Other explanations are toys for children, funerary offerings, or objects used in some unknown ritual.

Mimizuku Dogu,Saitama PrefectureImportant Cultural Property