Jomon Ware Ceramics II 2010

Why Create Art? Different people and cultures create art for different reasons…… Practical (functional)-Greek civilization used pottery to store harvested food and water in Practical (functional)-Greek civilization used pottery to store harvested food and water in Personal-Artists make work for no specific function Personal-Artists make work for no specific function Cultural-Egyptian made canopic jars hold organs of the dead Cultural-Egyptian made canopic jars hold organs of the dead

Jomon People Pre-literate Japanese culture Pre-literate Japanese culture First to settle in Japan’s outlying islands First to settle in Japan’s outlying islands 9000 to 300 BCE 9000 to 300 BCE Oldest known form of pottery Oldest known form of pottery Made the most powerful and dynamic examples of coil work that exist. Made the most powerful and dynamic examples of coil work that exist.

Above and Beyond… This culture made functional pottery beyond anything required in a simple object for practical use. This culture made functional pottery beyond anything required in a simple object for practical use.

A special society Its distinctive style came from a hunting and gathering society. Its distinctive style came from a hunting and gathering society. Historically, storage vessels were not produced until people settled into the agrarian way of life and relied upon tilling the soil for planting and harvesting crops. Historically, storage vessels were not produced until people settled into the agrarian way of life and relied upon tilling the soil for planting and harvesting crops.

Who are the artists? "Often vessels were decorated with patterns made by pressing cord onto the damp clay (jomon means "cord markings"). "Often vessels were decorated with patterns made by pressing cord onto the damp clay (jomon means "cord markings"). Jomon usually crafted their vessels by building them up with coils of clay Jomon usually crafted their vessels by building them up with coils of clay

They fired them in bonfires at relatively low temperatures. They fired them in bonfires at relatively low temperatures. It is thought that Jomon pottery was made by women, as was the practice in most early societies, especially before the use of the potter's wheel. It is thought that Jomon pottery was made by women, as was the practice in most early societies, especially before the use of the potter's wheel.

Other early Jomon pots have pointed bottoms. Other early Jomon pots have pointed bottoms. Notice burn marks along the sides Notice burn marks along the sides It is thought they must have been planted firmly into soft earth or sand, then used for cooking It is thought they must have been planted firmly into soft earth or sand, then used for cooking Other early vessels were crafted with straight sides and flat bottoms, a shape that was useful for storage as well as cooking and eventually became the norm. Other early vessels were crafted with straight sides and flat bottoms, a shape that was useful for storage as well as cooking and eventually became the norm.

Early Jomon Late Jomon Dogu figurine Middle Jomon

It is thought that this group of people were able to develop such elaborate pottery because of the relative peacefulness of the islands. It is thought that this group of people were able to develop such elaborate pottery because of the relative peacefulness of the islands. There was lush vegetation, plenty of fish, and no invaders due to the water surrounding the islands. There was lush vegetation, plenty of fish, and no invaders due to the water surrounding the islands. They were free to enjoy the luxury of making these artistic objects They were free to enjoy the luxury of making these artistic objects