SMALL BOWL, Earthenware, Sue Ware (fragment), Kofun Period (250–581 CE)

A shallow, open bowl of Sue ware. A large portion of the body is missing from the rim, yet the vessel’s profile—gently rising from the base—remains. Horizontal turning marks from the wheel run across the interior and exterior, and concentric traces of rotation from shaping are incised on the base.

Sue ware is a type of pottery made using the potter’s wheel and pit‑kiln techniques introduced from the Korean Peninsula around the mid‑Kofun period. High‑temperature firing in the kiln produces a hard, gray surface, and a wide range of forms—jars, storage jars, dishes, and bowls—were produced for uses from daily life to ritual.

The vessel’s pale gray surface bears black specks and firing-related discoloration. A large chip exposes the thickness of the wall and the cross-section of the clay body, offering a close view of the forming and firing of Sue ware.

There are substantial losses from the rim to the body, as well as cracks and surface abrasions. A small amount of water may be added to display seasonal flowers.