I am particularly fond of forms that in a photo present a
mystery, could it be a guinomi or a chawan. Such pieces maintain proportions
that blow-up or shrink down well, as to fool the eye (and brain) into
questioning their scale. This elegant bowl form, thrown perfectly out of a low
fire clay with intermittent incised decoration is glazed in an alkaline clear
and then had washes of iron and copper pigment skillfully placed about the pot.
Because of the potter's use of classical proportions, this piece really could
be a chawan or guinomi, though it is the later. This sancai influenced guinomi
was made by Kato Kobei VII and has a light and airy, even refreshing quality
even without any intended beverage within.
"No object is mysterious. The mystery is in your eye." Elizabeth Bowen (1899-1973)
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