No developed medieval society could do without ceramic ware, and the Jurchens were no exception. They produced a wide variety of ceramic items, with kitchenware being the most prevalent.

The household utensils produced by Jurchen craftsmen were diverse. Among the items were pot-shaped vessels, vases, basins, and bowls.

The items varied according to their use. Kitchenware was used for cooking, while dining ware was commonly used to serve food at the table. Storage vessels were also used to keep food safe from rodents and dampness. In addition to the standard ceramic dishes, Jurchen potters were skilled in making glazed and porcelain wares. 

The collection of the Spassk Museum houses a pot-shaped vessel, which was found during the excavations of a Jurchen settlement near Spassk-Dalny in the Primorsky Krai.

Pot-shaped vessels are represented by a numerous group of products of different sizes.

These vessels have a truncated-conical body. They are characterized by massive tubular rims with rounded edges. Many vessels have loop-shaped handles attached to the shoulders.

Most of these vessels are covered with black engobe, a thin layer of white or colored clay, which is applied to the surface of a ceramic product before firing. The primary function of the engobe is to mask the rough texture of the item or its undesirable color. Additionally, the surface of the ceramic item was sometimes burnished to a mirror-like shine using a smooth object.

The vessel, which is presented in the exhibition, has an interesting detail: it shows signs of repair that were made during its use. For some reason, it cracked, and a deep fissure formed beneath its rim. To prevent it from spreading further, the ancient master carefully drilled two small holes on each of the cracked sides and pulled the edges together with a leather cord. This indicates that the Jurchen took good care of their ceramic items and made efforts to extend their usability as much as possible.