Large Storage Jar (Ōtsubo)

While the earliest Tanba wares closely resembled those of nearby Tokoname and were distributed locally, potters in the region soon adapted to a growing market. This imposing jar, one of the highlights of Harry Packard’s ceramics collection, belongs to a select group of narrow-mouthed vessels associated with the Inariyama kiln of the Tanba region. Its short neck, flaring rim, and visible traces of coil construction are characteristic features. The vessel’s substantial size as well as its hardness, achieved through high-temperature firing, exemplify the technical advances that fueled Tanba’s rise as a major regional producer. By the end of the medieval period, Tanba wares were widely traded across the western Kansai region of west-central Honshu, Japan’s largest island.