Chūbu region, Japan (Yamanashi / Nagano prefectures)

Deep Bowl with Relief Ornamentation and Loop Handles of the Middle Jōmon Period

2081

Middle Jōmon Period (Chūki Jōmon), c. 3000–2000 BCE

A deep bowl (fukabachi) of the Middle Jōmon Period, produced approximately 3000–2000 BCE by hand-coiling methods in the Chūbu region of Japan. The vessel features a heavily molded outward-flaring rim collar with pronounced undercutting and projecting circular loop handles that extend beyond the body silhouette. The exterior surface is organized into vertical panels by sweeping raised clay ridges; within these panels, interlocking spiral volutes, S-curves, and ladder-hatched relief bands are built up using applied clay appliqú. The recessed ground fields between the raised ridges are densely textured with cord impressions produced by pressing twisted cords into the leather-hard clay. The profound physical relief depth of the raised bands and the perforated loop handles creates intense chiaroscuro under directional light, with deep shadows within the carved channels and around the perforated loops contrasting sharply with the highlighted surfaces of the raised coils.