Where Did Painted Pottery Come From?

Painted pottery refers to clay vessels such as pots, bowls, and vases that have been decorated with pigments and designs. The history of painted pottery dates back thousands of years to some of the earliest human civilizations.

The origins of painted pottery can be traced to the Neolithic period starting around 10,000 BCE in East Asia and the Near East. Early potters discovered that applying colored clays and pigments to the surface of pots not only made them more aesthetically pleasing, but also strengthened and protected the vessel. Over time, designs and techniques became more advanced, evolving from simple lines and shapes to intricate motifs and narratives.

Painted pottery provides archaeologists and historians with valuable insights into the cultures that produced them. The styles, images, and manufacturing methods reflect the values, beliefs, and technological capabilities of past societies. Tracking the origins and spread of painted pottery reveals patterns of trade, migration, and cultural exchange in the ancient world.

Earliest Examples

The earliest known painted pottery dates back over 18,000 years ago. In China, pottery fragments were discovered at the Xianrendong Cave site in Jiangxi Province that have been radiocarbon dated to around 18,000-17,000 BCE (Source). This is the earliest evidence found of pottery production. In Japan, pottery found at the Odai Yamamoto I site has been dated to around 16,500 BCE, representing some of the oldest known pottery in the world (Source).

Materials

Ancient painted pottery was made primarily from clay. Different types of clay were used, depending on the culture and time period. Clay comes from the earth and can be found in many locations. It can be dug up, cleaned, and worked into pottery forms. The key properties that make clay good for pottery are its plasticity when wet, and its hardens when fired at high temperatures.

Pigments were essential for adding color to the clay pottery. Early pigments were derived from natural materials that people discovered in the environment around them. Common ancient pigment sources included minerals like iron oxides for reds and yellows, manganese for browns and blacks, copper ores for greens and blues, as well as ash, plants, and shells.1 The pigments had to be finely ground and mixed with water to produce a paint or glaze that could be applied to the clay surfaces.

Ancient pottery makers became adept at finding good sources for pigments and mastered techniques for extracting, preparing, and applying them. The range of colors expanded over time as new mineral sources were discovered and methods improved. By combining multiple pigments, more varieties of paints could be produced.

Early Techniques

Some of the earliest techniques for decorating pottery involve making impressions or marks in the wet clay before firing. These include incising designs by carving into the surface with tools, as well as impressing by pressing objects into the clay to leave patterns.

According to https://thepotterywheel.com/decorating-pottery/, incising was done using sharp sticks, bones, shells, or stones to scratch designs into leather-hard clay. Geometric patterns, spirals, and hatching were common motifs. Impressing involved pressing items like cords, fabric, leaves, shells, or fingers into the soft clay.

Early painting methods were also used to decorate pottery. As noted in https://potterymakinginfo.com/news/13-pottery-decorating-techniques-tips/, some of the first paints were natural colored clays and iron-rich (ochre) pigments like red and yellow. These were applied to the bisque ware or greenware. Painted linear designs and simple geometric shapes were typical.

Uses

Early painted pottery served several key functions for early societies. According to Wikipedia, pottery was used for utilitarian cooking and storage purposes, as well as for ceremonial functions.

Some of the earliest painted pottery vessels were likely used to store and transport food and water (Wikipedia). Their durability and ability to be sealed made them ideal for stockpiling grains and other foods. Over time, techniques advanced to create vessels tailored to cooking foods over fire.

In addition to practical uses, painted pottery played an important ritual role. Painted vessels were created specifically for burial practices and contained offerings for the deceased to take to the afterlife (Wikipedia). Elaborate painted designs and forms were integral to these ceremonial functions.

The discovery of painted pottery in tombs and ceremonial sites reveals how early cultures used it not just for daily tasks, but to express their beliefs about life after death.

Spread of Technology

Painted pottery spread across many cultures and continents through a combination of trade and independent invention. Trade routes like the Silk Road and maritime routes allowed the sharing of ideas and technologies across vast distances. As people encountered beautiful painted wares from faraway lands, they were inspired to adopt and adapt these techniques in their own local pottery traditions.

In some cases, the techniques of painted pottery sprung up independently in cultures with no direct contact. Archaeological evidence shows vivid polychrome pottery emerging in ancient Mexico, for example, without any clear precedents or outside influences. The human desire to decorate and beautify functional objects seems to have led diverse cultures to embellish their ceramics in stylistically distinct but parallel ways.

While trade helped transmit specific techniques and aesthetic styles, the innate human creative drive also led to iterations of painted pottery arising spontaneously in different times and places. Both diffusion and individual invention contributed to painted pottery becoming a hallmark of cultures across the ancient world.

Notable Early Cultures

Two significant early cultures known for their painted pottery are the Jomon in Japan and the Yangshao in China. The Jomon period lasted from around 14,000 BCE to 300 BCE. Jomon pottery featured rope-patterned decoration and an emphasis on ritual and ceremony. Early Jomon pottery was simple and practical, but it evolved into more elaborate forms including figurines and vessels. Famous Jomon pottery artifacts include flame-style pots and goggle-eyed dogu figurines.

The Yangshao culture in China flourished between 5000-3000 BCE along the Yellow River. Yangshao pottery was decorated with geometric patterns, animal motifs, and painted human facial designs. Distinctive artifacts include egg-shaped pots and elbow-shaped piping. Yangshao pottery spread across northern China and was an important precursor to later Chinese civilization.

Developments

Over time, new developments significantly impacted the pottery making process and the styles produced. One major development was the invention of the pottery kiln, which allowed much higher firing temperatures to be reached. This led to innovations like vitreous (glass-like) glazes and porcelain. Kiln technology steadily improved, transitioning from updraft kilns, to downdraft kilns, to the large noborigama climbing kilns used in ancient China and Japan [1].

New tools like the potter’s wheel also transformed how pottery could be shaped and styled. The wheel enabled much more uniformity, thinner walls, and new vessel forms. Decorative techniques progressed from basic incising and stamping, to sophisticated painted decoration using multiple colors of high-temperature mineral pigments. Stylistically, pottery evolved from very basic functional wares, to include elaborate vessels with complex motifs and scenes [2].

Legacy

Ancient painted pottery has had a lasting influence on later cultures and styles. The distinctive black-figure and red-figure styles of ancient Greek pottery inspired generations of artisans and greatly impacted the trajectory of Western art (Greek Pottery and its Archaeological Importance). Certain techniques like terra sigillata were revived during the Renaissance and influenced the development of tin-glazed majolica ware in the 15th and 16th centuries. In East Asia, ceramics experts studied ancient Chinese vessel shapes and glazes to recreate long-lost styles. Even modern studio pottery bears the legacy of early painted wares.

Today, early pottery is of great interest to archaeologists, art historians, collectors, and the general public. Major museums like the Metropolitan Museum of Art and British Museum have expansive ancient ceramic collections, displaying works as artistic masterpieces and cultural artifacts. Advanced imaging technology allows researchers to examine early styles like Jomon pottery in microscopic detail. Auction houses sell exceptional specimens for millions of dollars. And online image databases make these ancient painted wares more accessible than ever, allowing anyone to admire the artistry and innovation of our ancestors.

Conclusion

In summary, the origins and history of painted pottery trace back to ancient cultures like the Minoans and Mycenaeans who developed early techniques for decorating utilitarian vessels. The ancient Greeks expanded upon these early innovations to create stunning works of art using geometric patterns and detailed scenes of mythology and daily life. Painted pottery provided archaeologists with valuable insights into these ancient cultures. The vessels depicted details about religion, war, athletics, banquets, weddings, funerals, and more. Pottery sherds helped date sites and determine the extent of trade and cultural connections. While painted vases and amphorae initially served practical functions, over time they evolved into masterworks showcasing the artistry and accomplishments of early civilizations. The legacy of ancient Greek painted pottery continues to inspire artists today. These artifacts provide a window into the lives of those who crafted and used them centuries ago.