Lidded Jar with Handle c. 9th century

This Lidded Jar with Handle, made from earthenware, is found in the collection of the Minneapolis Institute of Art. With its delicate proportions, it is easy to imagine how this jar, etched with a grid of symbols, might have been used within a domestic setting. As an object of utility, the jar underscores the intimacy between the tools we use and the lives we lead. Consider that the maker is unknown to us and the marks are indecipherable. The creator, working anonymously, made something meant to be used. Does the anonymity of the artist invite reflection upon the lives of women? It is often the work of women which remains without attribution. Perhaps they were bound by societal constraints and expectations to remain nameless? The jar’s existence invites contemplation about labor, gender, and the stories we tell about the things we use and the things we make.