Jar with three knobs c. late 5th - early 6th century

Editor: Standing before us is an earthenware jar from the late 5th to early 6th century, simply titled "Jar with three knobs," residing here at the Minneapolis Institute of Art. Its unassuming nature is quite compelling. What is your perspective? Curator: It is intriguing how the simplicity of such a vessel speaks volumes about its time. The social context is key here. Who was using it? What was its function within that society? These questions open a broader inquiry. Editor: A utilitarian piece perhaps? Curator: Likely, yes. And consider the societal role of pottery. In many ancient cultures, ceramic production was a communal activity, and objects like this jar weren't simply functional; they were embedded with social meaning. The fact it has survived for so long shows its resilience but the subtle colour variations shows it's aged history. What story might these tell us? Editor: It's weathered texture seems very tactile, telling tales of ancient rituals, maybe? I notice too the scratches, they give so much character, each accidental mark or touch seems like part of a collaboration of art, almost. Curator: That's precisely it! Every visible alteration serves as an archive, not just of form but also of those ancient, daily experiences that shaped history itself. Each scratch signifies labor, storage and cultural interactions and even trade. I wonder to what extent its users had regard to the surface variations or if the pot held deeper symbolic meaning. It makes one wonder about accessibility to materials for creation of wares at the time, no? Editor: That’s really fascinating – I hadn’t considered it that way. The piece suddenly feels much more substantial. Curator: Exactly. This object, while modest, becomes a tangible link to a world that continues to shape ours, challenging how we perceive the function of artwork and social status. Editor: I'm seeing how understanding its creation ties it to its time in a deep and nuanced manner. It prompts me to contemplate the object's utility and symbolic importance in its own community and beyond. Curator: Absolutely. Thinking about this specific society and even time places this creation in broader cultural trends from other global civilizations.