Horn-shaped Vessel

Unknown artist

Kofun period, 6th century

Tokyo National Museum

A gray, horn-shaped ceramic vessel with a curved, pointed end and a broken, open top. The surface shows texture and cracks. This is a ceramic horn-shaped cup. Vessels like this were originally made from hollowed-out animal horns and they were probably used for drinking alcohol. They were prevalent among nomadic peoples from Central Asia and they eventually arrived on Japan's shores via the Korean peninsula. This type of pottery is known as Sue ware. Sue objects were fired at high temperatures in kilns. This made them harder and thinner than the earthenware that had prevailed in Japan before then. The impermeability of Sue ware also made it ideal for cups like this. Similar horn-shaped cups have been found in several regions across Japan. All were made in