Jomon Pottery
Old use, contemporary inspiration
Oldest Pottery in the World
The pottery vessels crafted in Ancient Japan during the
Jōmon period are generally accepted to be the oldest
in the world.
They are not, however, the oldest ceramic objects,
which are figurines such as the Venus of Dolní
Věstonice discovered in what is today the Czech
Republic
Venus of Dolní Věstonice
Characteristics
• The majority of Jōmon pottery has rounded
bottoms and the vessels are typically small.
• Later Jōmon pottery pieces are more elaborate,
especially during the Middle Jōmon period.
• The name Jōmon itself means “rope-patterned”.
Incipient Jomon period from 10,000-7,000 BC
Incipient Jomon period from 10,000-7,000 BC
Jomon Pot
3000-2000 BC, from Chiyonohara.
Tokyo National Museum.
Jomon pots were hand-turned, not made on a wheel, and marked with cord impressions.
Cord marking has a practical, as well as an esthetic, affect - it prevents cracking when the
pot is fired.
deep vessel with rings for hanging
middle jomon
tsunagi, iwate
Flamboyant Jomon Pot
3000-2000 BC, from Umataka
Tokyo National Museum.
Pottery like this raises profound questions about cultural identity and difference in early
Japan. Its baroque decoration contrasts wildly to the Yayoi aesthetic, of elegant simplicity,
that has dominated Japan ever since.
Comtemporary Artists inspired
by Jomon pottery
ALAN J. SEROTA
Peggy Nadeau
Peggy Nadeau
Dax Mench
Rhonda Balding
Today’s Studio Objective
Build two pots using coil building
techniques
• One should be at least 8” tall
• One should be bowl shaped
• At least one of these two should have a smoothed surface.
• At least one of these two should have some decorative
element besides the coils.
Bibliography
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J%C5%8Dmon_Po
ttery