New to the Ackland: A Middle Jōmon Jar

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A tall clay jar with two finger holes on each side at the top

Some of the world’s most ancient pottery has been found in Japan, from the early phase of the oldest known Japanese civilization, designated since the late 19th century as the Jōmon Period (c. 10,500 to 300 BCE). “Middle Jōmon” (c. 2500 to 1500 BCE) saw an extraordinary efflorescence of design and experimentation, during which vessels became elaborate, ornate, and almost exuberant. This recent acquisition is a relatively restrained but finely made example. Its plain body is marked with the characteristic pattern made by impressing a rope-wrapped stick across the surface of the clay (“Jōmon” actually means “cord-marked”). The upper section and rim, by contrast, break out into curving lines, openings,  subtle asymmetries, and small, flame-like extrusions. Whether made as a cooking pot or for ritual use, this strongly tactile and sculptural object forms an interesting counterpoint to some of the modern and contemporary Japanese ceramics which the Ackland has recently been collecting as well. Some artists explicitly reference and invoke Jōmon stylistic attributes.

Image credit:
Unidentified artist, Japanese, Middle Jōmon period, Jar, c. 2500 BCE, earthenware, 12 5/8 × 8 1/2 in. (32.1 × 21.6 cm). The William A. Whitaker Foundation Art Fund, 2024.42.1.