Jar thumbnail 1
Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
Japan, Room 45, The Toshiba Gallery

Jar

500-600 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This round-bottomed jar is one of the earliest pieces of Japanese ceramics in the Museum's collection. It was probably intended as a burial accessory for one of the many large tombs built in Japan in the 6th century AD. Similar vessels with rounded bottoms have been found with tall supporting stands. The marks visible on the exterior reveal that the jar was made by joining together a series of coils of clay which were then beaten into shape with a textured paddle. The flow of air into the kiln was controlled so that only a limited amount of oxygen could enter. This resulting reduced atmosphere caused the iron-rich clay to turn a greyish black colour. The deep green splash of glaze which defines the front of the jar is the chance result of flying ash from the wood fuel settling and melting on the pot surface during firing. These features are characteristic of ceramics known as Sue wares. The technology for making these wares was introduced into Japan from Korea at the turn of the 5th century AD.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Stoneware, with natural ash glaze and paddling marks
Brief description
Round-bottomed jar, stoneware with natural ash glaze, Sue ware, Japan, Kofun period, 6th century
Cer, Japan, Sue ware
Physical description
Round bottomed jar with flaring mouth made of stoneware with a natural ash glaze and paddling marks.
Dimensions
  • Height: 25.4cm
Styles
Gallery label
  • Round-bottomed jar 500–600 Jars of this kind were made to be buried in tombs. It is thought that they were intended for the deceased to use in the afterlife. The jar was created using technology introduced from Korea in the 5th century. This included firing in kilns, which allowed Japanese potters to make stoneware rather than earthenware for the first time. Stoneware with natural ash glaze Museum no. FE.8-1972 (04/11/2015)
  • Round-Bottomed Jar Stoneware with natural ash glaze and padding marks Sue ware About 500-600 Jars of this shape have been found in tombs. They were normally used with tall supporting stands.(1986)
  • Round-bottomed jar Sue ware Stoneware with natural ash-glaze AD 500-600 V&A FE.8-1972 (January 2015)
Summary
This round-bottomed jar is one of the earliest pieces of Japanese ceramics in the Museum's collection. It was probably intended as a burial accessory for one of the many large tombs built in Japan in the 6th century AD. Similar vessels with rounded bottoms have been found with tall supporting stands. The marks visible on the exterior reveal that the jar was made by joining together a series of coils of clay which were then beaten into shape with a textured paddle. The flow of air into the kiln was controlled so that only a limited amount of oxygen could enter. This resulting reduced atmosphere caused the iron-rich clay to turn a greyish black colour. The deep green splash of glaze which defines the front of the jar is the chance result of flying ash from the wood fuel settling and melting on the pot surface during firing. These features are characteristic of ceramics known as Sue wares. The technology for making these wares was introduced into Japan from Korea at the turn of the 5th century AD.
Bibliographic references
  • Ayers, John. Far Eastern Ceramics in the Victoria and Albert Museum. London: Sotheby Parke Bernet, in association with the Victoria and Albert Museum, 1980, Colour Plate No. 224.
  • Earle, Joe, ed. Japanese art and design London: V&A Publishing, 2009, p. 31.
Collection
Accession number
FE.8-1972

About this object record

Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.

You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.

Suggest feedback

Record createdDecember 15, 1999
Record URL
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest