An artwork on Galleree from Cleveland Museum of Art.
About the artwork
Fire-flame Cooking Vessel (Ka'en Doki)c. 2500 BCE
Archaeologists call this kind of vessel “fire-flame,” <em>ka’en</em> in Japanese, because their tops resemble flames. No one knows why the design was created, or what it actually represents. This example is remarkable for the amount that is original. It was recently determined that the bottom from a different vessel was used during its reconstruction, creating a false impression of its intended scale; it would have been about four inches shorter. Since their lower portions were set into holes in the ground during use, bases of pots like these often deteriorated.
Scientifically tested residues from Jōmon vessels reveal that their makers consumed detoxified acorns.
Earthenware with carved and applied decoration
height: 61 cm (24 in.); Diameter: 55.8 cm (21 15/16 in.)
John L. Severance Fund
In the quiet corridors of history, a vessel known as the "fire-flame" captivates the curious minds of archaeologists. With its pointed top reminiscent of flickering flames, the Japanese term for this artifact is <em>ka’en</em>. Each vessel whispers secrets that evade understanding—its design, shrouded in mystery, speaks to a time long gone. What inspired its creators to shape such a form? The answers slip through our fingers like grains of sand.
As we admire the craftsmanship of this particular piece, we can’t help but notice its remarkable integrity. Despite the passage of ages, much of the original vessel remains intact, a testament to the artistry and care it once received. Yet, upon closer examination, a captivating revelation emerges: it bears the footprint of another pot, its bottom forged from a mismatched vessel during reconstruction. Thus, a myth unfolds, for this vessel once stood four inches shorter than we perceive today.
Imagine the lives this vessel once touched. Picture its lower half, snugly nestled in the earth, a vital part of a community’s daily rituals. In time, the ground embraced it, causing wear and decay to claim its base. Yet despite this erosion, the essence of <em>ka’en</em> endured, inviting us to ponder the bond between form and function, and the stories that lie hidden beneath the surface of its flame-like crown. Each crack and imperfection tells of a life lived, an echo of human experience preserved within the embrace of clay. As we stand before this remarkable artifact, we are reminded of the timeless dance between creation and decay, between memory and forgetting—a profound reflection of our own journeys through history.
About the artist
Creating transformative experiences through art “for the benefit of all the people forever.”The Cleveland Museum of Art is renowned for the quality and breadth of its collection, which includes more than 66,500 artworks and spans 6,000 years of achievement in the arts. The artworks shared on this platform are sourced from the museum's Open Access data under the CC0 license. No endorsement is implied.Address: 11150 East Boulevard, Cleveland, OH, USA 44106
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