RARE Japanese Amphora Ewer from Neolithic Jōmon (縄文) period! c. 5000--3450 BC

Description: Houghton USA Ancient Art, Antiques, & Fine Collectables Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE Ancient Japanese Earthenware Pouring Ewer with Handle This ancient, ceramic, Japanese vessel was used to heat liquids such as water or ceremonial wine about 6,000 years-ago. It has a wonderful amphora/ewer design with a top handle and a scalloped pouring lip. This small ewer is around 6,000 years old; that is thousands of years older than Stonehenge, which dates from about 3,000—2,000 BC. The Jōmon (縄文) period is Japan’s oldest known culture and one of the oldest dated pottery traditions in the world, with pottery not being used in the Middle East or North Africa until several thousand years later. The Jōmon period, which encompasses a great expanse of time, constitutes Japan’s Neolithic period. Its name is derived from the “cord markings” that characterize the ceramics made during this time. Jōmon people were semi-sedentary, living mostly in pit dwellings arranged around central open areas. This small, portable, ancient Japanese ewer was used to heat liquids over six millennia ago—perhaps the earliest culture ever to fire clay into earthenware. This amphora/cone-shaped ewer would have been gently placed upon the hot ashes of an open fire to heat the liquid inside the vessel. The single handle on the side would have allowed its user to safely remove the hot vessel from the ashes of an open bonfire and pour the heated contents into a service cup or bowl. The sides of the ewer are indented slightly so a hand could better hold the cone-shaped vessel. Many of the early deep Jōmon pots had pointed bottomed pots and ewers like this one that made them useful for sitting well in the sand or soil of bonfires, but flat bottomed ones were more common after the Early Jōmon period. This vessel is in museum quality condition with no repairs or restorations. It does have age appropriate wear and patina from time and usage over 6,000 years-ago. Perfect for the advanced private collector or fine museum. This earthenware ewer will likely be the oldest piece of pottery in your collection! :) DETAILS Country: Japan Est. Period/Date: Early Jōmon Period (5000—3450 BC) Approximate Dimensions: · Length = 7.00” 17.5 cm · Outside Diameter of Vessel = 3.00” (76 mm) · Total weight = 4.3 oz. (123 gr.) Conditions: Very good, museum quality piece with some age appropriate marks from ancient usage and fire blackening. No visible repairs or restorations. Please see photos and bid accordingly. Guaranteed Original and Authentic. Material: Unglazed earthenware. Fine grained, light-gray, fired clay/pottery. Hand made in two pieces with added handle. Jōmon potters did not use a potter’s wheel, but made their pottery by kneading and coiling ropes of clay, then smoothing them together by hand to get a continuous surface. Under close examination by 10x magnification, you can still see the potter’s fingerprints on the edge of pouring lip as she molded the clay with her hands thousands of years ago. AMAZING!! Provenance: From a private collection in Gifu Prefecture, Japan. First time listed for sale in the USA. Similar examples can be found at the Tokyo National Museum References · Serizawa Chosuke and Tsuboi Kiyotari (eds.), Jomon doki taisei (A Survey of Jomon Pottery Vessels), Tokyo, 1981. · Imamura, K., Prehistoric Japan: New Perspectives on Insular East Asia. (London: UCL Press, 1996) · Kidder, J. Edward, Jr., Prehistoric Japanese Arts: Jōmon Pottery. (Tokyo: Kodansha International, 1968) · Pearson, Richard, et al., Ancient Japan. (Washington, D.C.: Arthur M. Sackler Gallery; New York: G. Braziller, 1992) · Weeder, E. ed., The Rise of a Great Tradition: Japanese Archaeological Ceramics from the Jōmon through Heian Periods (10,500 B.C. to A.D. 1185). (New York: Japan Society, 1990) · Tokyo National Museum · MET Please look carefully at the 4x macro photos as they are part of the description. SHIPPING cost includes Insurance to the 50 United States. Thanks for Looking! Please look at other wonderful treasures I have for sale on e-Bay, including other Sake cups! Per e-Bay's rules, PayPal only please within 1 day of your purchase. Thanks! Only Washington State residents are responsible for Washington State Sales Taxes...sorry.

Price: 1475 USD

Location: Sequim, Washington

End Time: 2024-02-22T01:09:08.000Z

Shipping Cost: 18.95 USD