Stemmed Haji ware bowl with handle

From Yasui, Izumo Province, Japan
Late Kofun period, 5th century AD

Two main types of pottery were made in Japan in the Kofun period (about AD 300-mid-6th century). This stemmed bowl is of the Haji type, a soft red ware known as Haji. Haji pottery was probably made for practical use in the home. Although it survives only as grave goods, it does give us an idea of the types of vessels which may have been used for cooking and at meals, such as rice boilers and cups with handles. This stemmed bowl was found in a tomb near Yasui in Izumo Province (present day Shimane Prefecture), but was possibly originally made for domestic use.

L. Smith, V. Harris and T. Clark, Japanese art: masterpieces in (London, The British Museum Press, 1990)