187. Jōmon sherds

187. Jōmon sherds

 

Jōmon pottery (縄文土器, Jōmon doki) is a type of ancient earthenware pottery made during the Jōmon period in Japan. The term "Jōmon" (縄文) means “rope-patterned” and describes patterns often pressed into the clay. Jōmon wares date from 10,500­-300 BCE, although pottery fragments from an earlier period that may also be Jōmon wares have been found.

The seller had no information on these particular sherds but thought they came from “northern Japan.”

The clay contains minute sparkling fragments, perhaps mica or quartz. Each piece is about 0.7 cm (1/4 in) thick.

a. Red clay; the interior and much of the exterior are blackened, either from soot or dirt. Weight: 122 g (4.4 oz). Dimensions: 9.5 x 13.3 (3-3/4 x 5-1/4 in).  The top left shoulder and the center of the top are the original rim on the pot; all the other edges are broken.  The vertical squiggles and the horizontal bands were coils of clay attached to the main body. The other decorations were incised or pressed into the clay.

b. Brown clay, with much blackening from soot or dirt. Weight: 18 g (0.6 oz). Dimensions: 8.7 x 4.5 cm (3-1/2 x 1-3/4 in). All the edges are broken. The central band was formed from a coil of clay attached to the main body. The other decorations were pressed into the clay.

c. Tan clay, with much blackening from soot or dirt. Weight: 160 g (5.7 oz). Dimensions: 10.2 x 11.3 cm (4 x 4-1/2 in). The upper edge is part of the original rim; all other edges are broken. The handle(?—perhaps an arm of a figure?), was formed from a separate strip of clay and attached to the main body. There is no open space under the handle; there is plug of clay on the inside of the handle closing what would normally be an opening). All the decorations were incised into the clay.

d. Gray clay, with reddish colors on the exterior; the interior is blackened. Weight: 86 g (3 oz). Dimensions: 8.3 x 7.9 cm (3-1/4 x 3-1/8 in). The upper edge is part of the original rim; all other edges are broken. The decorations were incised into the surface.

e. Tan clay. Weight: 160 g (5.7 oz). Dimensions: 12.7 x 11.7 cm (5 x 4-5/8 in).  The upper edge is part of the original rim; all other edges are broken. The design at the center top was from coils of clay attached to the body of the pot. All the other decorations were incised into the clay.

Purchased in April 2022 from Art and Antique 28, Gifu City, Japan.