Wednesday, January 25, 2012

WHAT'S MY LINE

Illustrated is a vase by Ogawa Yukihiko. Showing an obvious Tokoname influence, Ogawa was actually taught by Kyoto renaissance potter and salt fire pioneer, Iwabuchi Shigeya (1925-1993) before he went on to study the pots of Mashiko and Tokoname. Many of his pots are medieval interpretations of Tokoname pottery and a large tsubo can be seen in the Madame Kikuchi Collection. This formal style vase was wood fired and the ash on the face of the pot is a combination of applied and natural accumulation from the firing. The sparse use of incised lines around the neck and body create a nice visual unity to this classical pot.