Friday, September 28, 2018

THIS OR THAT?

I think when discussing a specific work by a potter it is easy to say that he isn't known for this or that instead of saying that his is best known for whatever they are known for. I think I made this simple mistake a week or so back when I was writing about this very cool mizusashi made by veteran ceramic artist, Morino Taimei. While it is safe to say that Morino is best known for his predominantly blue based or iron red based vessels, he is in fact known to have made a number of chawan and mizusashi over the years. In this case using several glazes and wax resist, Morino has made a typical smaller form with a classic design using overglaze enamel and luster to create a decoration he is well known for. The surface is a well articulated balance of the pebbly black and grey green with the resisted area up on the shoulder nicely defining the face of the pot and adding a nice sense of irregularity to the form. Though this Morino mizusashi has already moved on to a new home it was a pleasure to handle, study and photograph and the visit will linger despite its three dimensional absence.