Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
Ceramics, Room 137, The Curtain Foundation Gallery

Jar

675-750 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This tall-necked jar is an example of Sue ware, a type of pottery whose technology was introduced into Japan from Korea at the turn of the 5th century AD. Its liberal covering of natural ash glaze is the chance result of flying ash from the wood fuel settling and melting on the pot surface during firing. Its angularity and sharpness of execution is reminiscent of metalwork, and although no immediate prototype is identifiable, it is likely that imported Chinese bronzes were the formative inspiration.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Stoneware, with natural ash glaze over rouletted decoration
Brief description
Tall-necked jar, stoneware with natural ash glaze over rouletted decoration; Sue ware, Japan, 675-750
Physical description
Tall-necked jar with flaring mouth, covered with a green glaze over decoration of bands of dots
Dimensions
  • Height: 27.4cm
Styles
Gallery label
Tall-Necked Jar Stoneware with green ash glaze over bands of dots Sue ware About 675-750 This jar has an unusually large amount of natural ash glaze. Its sharp profile may have been inspired by Chinese bronzes.(1986)
Subject depicted
Summary
This tall-necked jar is an example of Sue ware, a type of pottery whose technology was introduced into Japan from Korea at the turn of the 5th century AD. Its liberal covering of natural ash glaze is the chance result of flying ash from the wood fuel settling and melting on the pot surface during firing. Its angularity and sharpness of execution is reminiscent of metalwork, and although no immediate prototype is identifiable, it is likely that imported Chinese bronzes were the formative inspiration.
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. 70.
  • Earle, Joe, ed. Japanese art and design London: V&A Publishing, 2009, p. 33.
Collection
Accession number
FE.7-1972

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Record createdDecember 15, 1999
Record URL
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