Illustrated is a simple
yunomi, eminently practical and thoroughly useful made by Tsukigata Nahiko. It
is this type of direct and unfettered work that helps glimpse into the true nature
of the potter. Though best known for his Oni-Shino and Oni-Iga works, Tsukigata
was quite adept at a wide variety of styles which included Ki-Seto, Shigaraki,
Hagi and Kohihi wares. This Hagi style yunomi is made in one of his classic
forms he used for gunomi, yunomi and even chawan and the surface landscape is highly
animated with varying shades of color, ishihaze and crackled slip about the
piece. The tall foot accentuates the vertical nature of the form and it is easy
to see the piece in hand and in use as it was intended. Though simple in form
and execution, it seems to me that the simplest of things are usually bound up
in a maze of complexity.
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