Earthenware Pot (Paiwan, Taiwan)

Tags: aborigine | earthenware | Paiwan | pottery

Height: 40.0cm,
body circumference: 73.5.0cm
diameter of mouth: 15.0cm
diameter of base: 15.0cm
 

Acquired by Jen, Shien-min (1958, Taiwu Township, Pingtung County), Collected by Museum of Institute of Ethnology, Academia Sinica

Most Paiwan earthenware pots are unglazed and high fired, in round shape with either flat or slightly concave bottoms. Patterns are created by pressing or carving into the soft clay body, or by modeling relief forms onto the surface of the vessel. The pots are classified into male and female. Those with hundred-pacer snake patterns are male, and those with patterns on the shoulder or with nipple patterns are female. There are six types of Paiwan earthenware pots:
1. venaleiage lageinawang: with a snake pattern built up from the surface of the pottery.
2. teradang: with a snake pattern carved into the clay.
3. pienasinisoang: with a snake pattern combined with rings of protruding nipples.
4. silegct: with a mix of snake shapes and imprinted circles.
5. venavenar: with two bands, one of diamond shapes and the other a wavy line carved into the surface, which encircle the vessel.
6. ren quieaanie: with two to four circles pressed into the surface of the vessel’s shoulder.