Large Mid 20th Century Onta Jar With Hakeme Brush and Two-Colour Uchikake Splash Decoration

Onta Ware, or Onta-yaki, is a robust form of Japanese pottery rooted in the village of Onta in Ōita Prefecture. Dating back to the early 18th century, it is intricately associated with Mingei folk art and recognized as an Intangible Cultural Property by the Japanese government. Crafted through a communal effort within the tight-knit Onta village, the pottery relies on a traditional coiling technique and is fired in wood-burning kilns. The raw materials, sourced from the mountains around Onta, undergo a meticulous process of grinding and purification, preserving traditional methods. The village’s familial structure plays a crucial role, with women handling tasks like earth purification and men engaged in pottery creation. Onta Ware, known for its simple yet refined design, gained global recognition in the 1930s and continues to be produced without the use of machines, maintaining its ties to tradition and family craftsmanship. The pottery’s distinctive soundscapes, including the rhythmic clacking of wooden mills powered by a river, add to the immersive experience of Onta Ware, making it a cherished part of Japan’s cultural and craft heritage.

A beautiful warm beige slip provides the canvas for the hallmark brush-mark and splashed-glaze decorations. Representative and iconic in its appearance, it is distinctly ‘Onta’.