Monday, 1st February 2010

The History of Pots

With so many different types of cooking pots to choose from for our kitchens we often do not know where to start when purchasing new cookware.  Simmering pot, stew pot, cocotte?

But have you ever thought about the history of the pot? Where did the first pot come from and why was it created.

The first pot actually originated in Japan and was produced by a Japanese tribe called the Jomons. Jomon Pots are the oldest pots in the world and date back to 17,000 years ago.

The Jomons lived by sea and had easy access to plants and fish; therefore they possessed no imperative to domesticate and rear animals or grow crops. Instead they lived on a diet of fish and plants.  Pots were developed as a solution to food storage – clay pots became an ideal way for the Jomons to store food whilst keeping freshness in and the mice away.

All Jomon pots were made by hand, without the aid of a wheel, the potter building up the vessel from the bottom with coil upon coil of soft clay. As in all other Neolithic cultures, women produced these early potteries. The clay was mixed with a variety of adhesive materials, including mica, lead, fibers, and crushed shells. After the vessel was formed, tools were employed to smooth both the outer and interior surfaces. When completely dry, it was fired in an outdoor bonfire at a temperature of no more than about 900° C.

For something a bit more modern be sure to check check out Salamander Cookshop’s range of pots here: http://www.salamandercookshop.com