Jar with three handles, decorative lugs, incised herons and reeds design, ash glaze.

Collection NumberA001094
TitleJar with three handles, decorative lugs, incised herons and reeds design, ash glaze.
DateHeian period, 12th century.
Artist, Kiln, Workshop渥美窯　Atsumi ware
Name of prefectures & citiesAichi prefecture, Japan
Description of works【Water scenery painted on the “canvas” of pottery】
On the shoulder of this piece there are three vertical lines separating the area into three parts. One part has four water fowls playing in a heavily-bushed water side, and the other two have chrysanthemum patterns. The design of picturesque plants and water fowl rendered in incised lines is found only in the works produced by the Atsumi Kilns on the Atsumi Peninsula in Aichi Prefecture, where this piece came from, and the Suzu Kilns on the Noto Peninsula in Ishikawa Prefecture. This jar’s degree of perfection is extremely high, and there is a possibility that an artist other than the potter was involved.
The Atsumi Kilns were active for only a short period during the 12 and 13th centuries CE, but this famous group of kilns produced many custom-made pieces, like this one.

PageTop