To my eye, this is no ordinary kodai. Though simple, it has
a studied complexity that harkens back to Ko-Karatsu style pottery; the chirimen-kodai,
crinkled silk crepe texture, immediately identifies the pot as Karatsu ware, a
common trait among southern works(Kyushu-mono). The classic and timeless kodai
is crisp and sharply cut, the texture standing out from within the kodai
creating a wonderful visual landscaped microcosm. The foot-ring bares the marks
of the cut-off cord, that separates the bowl from the wheel head, adding to the
swift and spontaneous nature in which the kodai was addressed. This foot was
cut by Tanaka Sajiro (b.1937), a master of Karatsu-yaki whose works show a life
dedicated to the study of this regional pottery. Tanaka is a man of many
talents having studied Zen Buddhism, chanoyu, ikebana, calligraphy, poetry and
of course pottery making. Having excavated Ko-Karatsu kiln sites, he studied
the manner of their manufacture and firing, in this way, started on the path to
making Karatsu-yaki. There are few potters as adept and thoughtful in their
creation of Karatsu ware as Tanaka and his kodai are among the very finest.
.JPG)