Jar

Object Details

• Description

  Jar said to come from Togariishi, Nagano-ken.

  Slightly flaring beaker shape rounding to flat base; a sculptural projection with holes which could fit fingers on plain roll rim. Hand-built, probably coil-made. Lightweight, medium thickness. Extensive repair; the inside shows clearly that the piece was reassembled from many pieces.

  Clay: low-fired, red, soft and coarse; darker and grayer toward top, some blackened areas. Heavily tempered, white fleck inclusions (not mica).

  Glaze: none.

  Decoration: Applied ridges around vessel below rim and continuing either straight down or diagonally with hooked ends, grooved and notched with stick or other tool in various patterns (e.g. herringbone). Entire remaining surface is divided in abstract pattern panels, geometric straight-sided and diagonal forms combined with curved lines and some scrolls. Within the panels defined by parallel lines there is vertical, diagonal or horizontal parallel hatching or a combination. The highly decorative coiling sculptural projection on rim has holes which could make it functional as handle. Plain and well-smoothed inside.

• Label

  Projecting sculptural forms on the rim and ornate combinations of incised and relief designs on the body characterize jars made during the Middle Jomon period, one of the five periods of development of the Japanese Neolithic culture known as Jomon. Jomon ("cord-marked") pottery gives its name to the culture.

  While similarities according to site, region and period can be observed, no two Jomon pots are absolutely identical. This jar is said to have come from the Togariishi site in mountainous Nagano prefecture, an area that was heavily settled during the Middle Jomon period.

• Collection

  Freer Gallery of Art Collection

• Exhibition History

  Japanese Art from the Collection (October 26, 2024 - ongoing)

  Japanese Ceramics: from Past to Present (February 18, 1983 to December 16, 1984)

  Japanese Ceramics from Past to Present (February 18, 1983 to February 16, 1984)

  A Decade of Discovery: Selected Acquisitions 1970-1980 (November 9, 1979 to May 22, 1980)

  Japanese Ceramics (April 11, 1978 to January 17, 1980)

  Harold P. Stern Memorial Exhibition (April 18, 1977 to September 13, 1977)

• Origin

  Togariishi site, Nagano prefecture, Japan

• Culture

  Jomon culture, ca. 10,500–ca. 300 BCE

• Credit Line

  Purchase — Charles Lang Freer Endowment

• Type

  Vessel

• On View

  Freer Gallery 05: Japanese Art from the Collection

• Restrictions and Rights

  Usage Conditions Apply

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Keep Exploring

• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Date

  BCE 2000s, BCE 3000s

• Place

  Nagano prefecture, Japan, Togariishi site

• Topic

  Art, Japanese Art, Jomon Period (ca. 10,500 - 400 BCE), Pottery, Ceramics

• Culture

  Jomon culture, Japanese

• Object Type

  Vessels (containers)

• On View

  Yes