Page 55 - Catalogue of the Edward Morse collection of Japanese pottery MFA BOSTON

JAPANESE POTTERY 33

127. Jar. H. 11} in. Narrow base, decorated by a fillet of crenulated clay around body.
This object is figured in Ninagawa's work, Part VII., Fig. 27. This was found at Hyuga,
and is evidently of the same age as the shell-heap pottery.
128. Jar. H. <j\ in. D. yi in. in middle, tapering to a narrow base and a narrow open-
ing. Two long, flat handles, notched with three circular impressions on each side. Around
neck and centre are raised ribs in pairs, connected by raised ribs in pairs running vertically
on both sides of handles, ending with raised circles at each end. Scroll design in relief on
sides, and impressed spirals in shape of figure eight around centre and on sides. Roughly
made. Dug up near Sapporo, in Yezo. Collected by Mrs. Mabel Loomis Todd.

KAMIOKA POTTERY (Case 2)
A form of ancient pottery seen in the collections of Japanese antiquarians is
brought from the northern provinces of Rikuzen and Rikuchu. I have not been able
to ascertain the conditions under which it is found, except that it was dug from the
ground. The number of perfect vessels met with would perhaps indicate that the
objects had been obtained from burial-places. The vessels are always small in size,
the walls are thin, the designs smoothly incised in scrolls or interrupted lines with
cord-mark decoration ; the rims are even, or worked into low knobs or shallow notches.
Most of the forms are curiously unlike those found elsewhere. Representations of
natural objects are also found. From what is thus far known about this interesting
pottery, it must be regarded as prehistoric. There is not the slightest evidence that
the Ainus made pottery. An art so persistent among savage tribes as pottery-making
would never have been abandoned by such primitive savages. If, however, it shall
ever be demonstrated that the Ainus, as a race, made pottery in past times, I shall
be inclined to attribute the Kamioka pottery to Ainu origin.

129. Bowl. D. 4^ in. Fine dark clay, band of interrupted lines around rim. Rim
notched with four pairs of low knobs. Cord-mark impressions on side. Smooth space near
bottom.
130* Cup. D.
2f in. Surface cut in series of strong encircling ribs.
13^' Jar. H. 5f in. Ovoid in form. Coarse whitish clay, surface rough. This speci-
men, though coming from Kamioka, has none of the characteristics of the typical Kamioka
pottery.

MORTUARY POTTERY (hard gray lathe-turned) (Case 2)
132. Lenticular flask, with cylindrical neck, and knobs on sides suggesting rudimentary
handles. H. 7J in. Hard gray clay. Circular lathe-lines deeply marked. Vitrified about
neck. Yamato. 800
133* Flask, spherical body, neck with flaring rim. H. 64 in. Fragments of other vessels
adhering. Yamato. 800
134- Spherical jar. Yamato. 800
135- Flask, similar to 133.