For those of you unaware, there is a very
fine series of books that present a pictoral reference of contemporary potters
entitled; Toh: The best selections of contemporary ceramics in Japan, published
by Kyoto Shoin in 1992/1993. This series is in no way a definitive survey of
each of the one hundred potters it covers, but rather is a snapshot of their work at the
time of publication. Each volume is slender and is well illustrated with some
slight commentary and an abbreviated biography of each artist which runs the gamut
from Furutani Michio to Matsui Kosei. As I pointed out, these are not in-depth
survey of the artist but I constantly find myself going to this books for both
inspiration and perspective. I originally was acquiring each volume as it was
released, but ultimately, my source moved back to the US, leaving me to hunt
for these on my own back when there was no internet and amazingly immediate
access to every nook and cranny of the globe.
Over time I have assembled the lion's
share of these volumes and occasionally they yield a surprise or two. I have
encountered a number of the actual pots illustrated and was fortunate enough to
study them in hand and also a number of the books have been signed by the
potter, adding a certain flare to the volume and in my opinion rather
interesting. To clarify, there have been nearly a score of the books signed,
but there are signatures and then there is Kumano Kuroemon who as the adage
states; "go big or go home". Brushed boldly, rapidly and nearly
spilling off the pages, Kumano has signed the frontispiece to Vol. 88, looking like a small folding screen. This
particular book belonged to a fellow collector who decided to sell off a portion
of his reference library and it was purchased without the knowledge that the
book was signed. Never the less, some book collectors may be appalled that the
book is seemingly defaced, others would think, what wonderful serendipity and
thank you for all of that ink.
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