Storage Jar
Unknown Artist
1350–99
Medium
Stoneware with natural ash glaze and impressed designs (Tokoname ware)
Dimensions
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Classification
Ceramic
Department
Japanese Art
Museum
Cleveland Museum of Art
Credit
Gift of George Gund
Accession Number
1992.356
About this artwork
This storage jar was made by piling coils of clay atop one another, smoothing the inner and outer surfaces, and allowing the clay to dry before adding another section of the form. The wide rim and mouth were then added using a potter’s wheel. Because of its small base, the vessel could stand safely on a narrow step on the steep slope of a rising kiln floor. Such kilns were built into the side of a hill and used wood for firing. The natural ash glazes took about a week to 10 days to form.