(1) Large Jar
From Miyanomae, Ina City, Nagano Prefecture
Middle Jomon period, 3rd millennium B.C.
Height 59.5 cm
(Tokyo National Museum)

Characteristic features are the two pairs of decorative protrusions at the top and the long vine-shaped handle along one side. Its entire surface is highly ornamented, making use of raised rope-like patterns. The Japanese word jomon, which means "rope pattern" has been applied to the long prehistoric period characterized by pottery of this type.

(2) Jar
From Takakura Site, Atsuta-ku, Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture
Late Yayoi period, 3rd century
Height 32.6 cm
(Tokyo National Museum)

This is typical of the sorts of jars that were popular in the late Yayoi Period in the region near Ise Bay. Characteristic features are the wide flange around the mouth, decorated with a protruding line-pattern, and the bulbous lower section expanding in circumference toward the bottom, decorated with an indented zigzag-line pattern. The two shades of reddish pigment into which the surface is divided enhance the vessel's sophisticated and graceful proportions.

(3) Dog
From Kamidakeshi, Sakai-machi, Gumma Prefecture
Kofun period, 6th century
Height 46.3 cm
(Tokyo National Museum)

This is an example of the "animal" genre of haniwa, clay figures which often decorated the exteriors of tumulus graves. Other animal types were horses, monkeys, and chickens. The artist has skilfully expressed such details as the curled tail and the tongue hanging out of the mouth, making it seem like a real creature that was close to real people's lives.

(4) Seated Miko (Maiden in the Service of Shinto Gods)
From Kokai, Oizumi-machi, Gumma Prefecture
Kofun period, 6th century
Height 68.5 cm
(Tokyo National Museum)

A wide sash is wrapped around this haniwa figure's garment, which folds over the chest from right to left. The hair has two ring-like ornaments protruding upward. This miko, who seems to be in very formal attire, wears ear ornaments, single strands of beads around her wrists and double strands of beads around her neck and feet. Her "chair" resembles independent clay figures of chairs sometimes used as haniwa ornaments and stone chairs sometimes found among burial goods in tumulus graves.

(5) Tea Bowl, Shino Type (Mino Ware)
Momoyama period, 16th-17th century
Height 8.2 cm
(Tokyo National Museum)

The "semi-cylindrical" tea bowl shape became very popular during the latter part of the Tensho year-period (1573-1592). The rim of this bowl is of uneven height and the body bulges out slightly at several points. Applied to the exterior of baked clay (of a type known as mogusatsuchi) are some designs drawn with oxidized iron pigments. This bowl, which bears the nickname "Furisode," is a famous work which is considered a masterpiece on three counts: form, glaze, and pictorial design.

(6) Tea Leaf Jar
by Nonomura Ninsei
Edo period, 17th century
Height 30.0 cm
(Tokyo National Museum)

The maker of this jar, Nonomura Ninsei, was born in the province of Tamba (present-day Kyoto Prefecture) and became well-known as one of Kyoto's master ceramic artists. The ceramic products which he made at his kiln in front of the gate to Kyoto's Omuro Ninnaji Temple are known as omuroyaki. He produced many outstanding tea leaf jars. This one, which bears a design of the moon and a plum tree, shows the artist's skill with the potter's wheel. It uses both an overglaze and gold pigments, and the charming design successfully evokes a sense of three-dimensionality.