Ancient Art | Ca. 11,000 BC–7th century AD
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Vessel with a Flame-Like Rim, Reportedly found in Nagaoka City, Niigata, Jōmon period, 3000–2000 BC
Japanese Gallery (Honkan) Room 1
July 2, 2024 (Tue) - December 22, 2024 (Sun)Japan has some of the earliest pottery in the world, dating back about 13,000 years. It was created by the people of the Jōmon period (ca. 11,000–400 BC). These people built permanent settlements and relied on hunting, fishing, and gathering.
At the height of their culture, they made pottery with richly sculpted forms and figurines with distinctive shapes.
In the Yayoi period (ca. 4th century BC–first half of 3rd century AD), people from Northeast Asia (now China and Korea) immigrated to Japan. They brought knowledge of how to farm rice and make objects with bronze and iron. More food became available and people started making tools, weapons, and ritual objects with metal.
In the Kofun period (ca. second half of 3rd–7th century), regional rulers seized power and resources. They formed an early state and the imperial line became its central authority. These rulers had giant tomb mounds built for themselves, with clay sculptures placed outside and valuable objects buried inside to express the rulers’ authority even after death.
| Designation | Name | Creation/ Excavation/ Provenance |
Period | Acquisition/ Ownership/ Accession Number |
CMT | ||
| Highlight | Vessel with a Flame-Like Rim | Reportedly found in Nagaoka City, Niigata | Jōmon period, 3000–2000 BC | J-39036 | |||
| Highlight | Important Cultural Property | Deep Vessel with a Spout | Found at the Kamifukuoka Shell Mound, Saitama | Jōmon period, 4000–3000 BC | Private collection | ||
| Short Cuirass with Riveted Triangular Plates | Found at the Nihonmatsuyama Tumulus, Fukui | Kofun period, 5th–6th century | J-14169 | ||||
| Highlight | Ring Pommel with the Heads of Paired Dragons | Found in the Third Innai Tumulus, Shizuoka | Kofun period, 6th–7th century | J-20985 | |||
| Highlight | Important Cultural Property | Footed Long-Necked Jar | Found at the Kaniana Tumulus, Mie | Kofun period, 7th century | Gift of Mr. Kawahara Shōzō, J-9535 |