TEXTBOOK

I have written about Takeuchi Kimiaki (1948-2011) before in my blog and suffice it to say, he was a giant within the field of modern Tokoname pottery. Takeuchi took cues and direction from not only his master, Ezaki Issei, but fellow Tokoname potters such as Osako Mikio and Ogawa Yukihiko. Together, the group forged a rebirth into the pottery of Tokoname and each became synonymous with their own unique styling. Illustrated is a large hachi by Takeuchi Kimiaki that could stand as the textbook or signature style of his body of work. The surface has had a glassy green ash glaze "flung" across its surface with careful and well thought out design and the rest of the pot is adorned with effects of a wood firing that has peppered the surface with speckles of ash and the body richly reduced by charcoal created during the firing. As I mentioned, this style of plate is a classic example of his work and I have seen several of this hachi in print used to represent the potter for a vivid and creative style he was well known for. I am always amazed at the clash between such a perfectly thrown plate adorned with what appears to be such casual decoration; a method that is well practiced and highly successful as it was developed from the very core of a modern Tokoname potter.