Head of a Clay Figure (Dogū)

Excavated in Ibaraki Prefecture, this head was once attached to a torso. The eyes, with their catlike shape, are characteristic of this type. Clearly defined facial expressions did not appear until about halfway through the Middle Jōmon period. From that point on, a great variety of regionally distinct forms emerged, yet the faces remained highly stylized, eschewing naturalistic human features. Dogū of the Jōmon period were generally small enough to fit comfortably in the palm of the hand, suggesting that they were intended for personal or private use rather than communal rituals. The majority of these were made in eastern Japan between 3500 and 900 BCE.