CIRCA 1973

A friend sent me a group of catalogues recently and in the package was two catalogues on Tsukigata Nahiko from 1973. 1973 was the first year that Tsukigata exhibited his new Oni-Shino and quite frankly it is amazing how far developed the style was considering I have seen pots from 1969 and 1971 that don't even hint at this revolutionary style. The illustration is of a Oni-Shino from one of the catalogues and is a form that he used for most of his career. Low and broad this mimi-tsuki Oni-Shino mizusashi has the quintessential Oni-Shino glaze that Tsukigata is known for and the piece has a complimentary lid with a generous knob to ensure a good grip by collector or tea master. Like many of his pots, there is an enigmatic air to the piece that is well balanced with certain aspects of Momoyama revival classicism that in many respects defines the work of Tsukigata over his career of nearly six decades.