Monday, November 10, 2014

BUSHI-WAN

Illustrated is a Tsukigata Nahiko Oni-Shino chawan that used to belong to a collector friend of mine. At one time he had the largest group of Tsukigata pots that I am aware of outside of Japan which included a number of chawan, a magnificent chaire, a gem quality mizusashi, tsubo, hanaire and a framed tile to boot. But when I close my eyes this large brooding chawan stands out, its energy and presence palpable as if it were alive. The rich and molten surface frozen in time when Shino, ash and iron coalesce to create a statement about both potter and craft. There really is only one master of this style and this chawan a vivid exclamation about the spirit, determination and mystery of the art of Oni-Shino.

"This inanimate object, this pottery thing holds within itself thought and feeling in some mysterious way different from any other inanimate objects." Ted Randall (1914-1985)