POT LUCK

A while ago, a good friend of mine acquired a great pot, remarkable by any standard. By remarkable, I mean a pot that is truly a masterpiece by the potter and certainly a museum quality piece, a rather rare thing. Honestly, it was everything I would want by the artist and then some, I could go on and on, but there really are not enough adjectives to adequately describe the pot. At the risk of being forward, I asked him if he thought there was any way in which he would part with the vase and at the very least, should he decide in the future to sell it, would he think of me first? Not surprisingly, he said, if I wanted it, I could have it. I say not surprisingly because he has been among the most gracious of any collector I have ever met.

The highly anticipated vase arrived and did not disappoint at any level. In fact, the form, surface, size and presentation of the pot all exceeded any expectations I could have had and the posture of the pot is just priceless. The real reason that it was sent my way is that my friend realized, to him it was a really good pot, to me it was the near pinnacle of what I collect and knowing that, he selflessly thought it belonged in our collection. After reflecting on it for a while, though I am exceedingly happy to have the pot luck, the truth is I am even more pleased to have such a good friend and hope I can return the favor three-fold. After all, a good friendship is the foundation you can build your life upon.

"Friendship without self-interest is one of the rare and beautiful things of life."  James Francis Byrnes (1882-1972)