Excavated from the ruins of Heijō Imperial Palace, Nara-shi, Nara, 10th century.
10th century.
Height of small jar 10.1cm, diameter 12.7cm.
Nara National Research Institute for Cultural Properties
Black earthenware was first produced in the Kinai region after the middle of the 8th century, probably imitating the technique of Uchikuro earthenware produced from the central mountainous region to the Kanto region as a substitute for the declining production of Sue ware.
The majority of the wares are bowls and plates, with a few small jars mixed in. Initially, only the inner surface of the bowl was blackened (Class A), but in the 10th century, the technique changed to Class B, in which both the inner and outer surfaces were blackened, and eventually changed to tile wares in the 11th century.
