LARGE STRAW JAR, Imported via Luzon, woven, Azuchi-Momoyama–Edo Period (1573–1867 CE)

A large straw-woven jar imported from Luzon. Thick bundles of plant fiber are layered and plaited into a jar form, with cords passed vertically as the weaving progresses. The body swells broadly, narrowing from the shoulder to a short neck; height 42cm, width 39cm, giving it a substantial presence.

The surface has deepened to a dark brown with age, and where it has been abraded, reddish-brown fibers peek through. The weaving is not uniformly regular; the thickness of individual strands and the spacing of the weave vary, a quality that harmonizes with the vessel’s broadly rounded form. The rim is constructed of the same material, and, on close inspection, the cord twists and overlapping fibers remain clearly preserved.

Luzon was known in early modern Japan as an entry point for goods arriving from the south, and in the world of tea Luzon jars and Luzon baskets were especially prized. This object, too, has been handed down as a woven ware imported from the southern regions. Though made of materials wholly different from ceramics or woodwork, its jar-like form conveys a weighty, composed presence.

An antique woven vessel of this size is suited to being placed directly on the floor and harmonizes naturally with furniture and old ceramics. Fitting a bamboo tube at the mouth and using it as a flower container for large branches or wildflowers would also be appropriate. Greenery shows up beautifully against the dark, fibrous surface.

There are age-related abrasions, fraying and broken fibers, and irregularities in the weave. The broadly rounded body is well preserved, and this large straw jar displays the deep color and texture characteristic of old straw weaving.