PICTURE PERFECT

I recently received a catalogue that had a variety of pots dating prior to 1985 and in it was a rather remarkable vase by Tsukigata Nahiko. Illustrated is a scan from the catalogue showing another very typical form that Tsukigata worked with, but the surface is anything but typical and possibly just shy of being picture perfect. Glazed in a thick coat of Shino glaze, that almost appears curdled, iron is boiling up from underneath and in places combining with the rich natural ash that has deposited on the surface creating exceptional flows of varying hues and textures. The area on the face of the pot that bore the brunt of the velocity within the kiln is caked with a rich shield of ash that is just a touch refractory in appearance and most likely to the touch as well. Whether by inspired planning and experience or a touch of serendipity, the pot is mostly encased in an ethereal coat of ash that makes the pot luminescent. Having seen similar pots in person, I can tell you that if there is any dictionary that does not have this (or a very similar pot) illustrated adjacent to the entry; ONI-SHINO, than it definitely needs an immediate revision!

"It is reasonable to have perfection in our eye that we may always advance toward it, though we know it can never be reached."  Samuel Johnson (1709-1784)