The Shigaraki and Iga works of Furutani Michio
are among the most classic, yet subtly modern pots that I have seen. His
ability to instill a timeless quality in his work, speaks to his understanding
and insight in to what is the essence of old Shigaraki and Iga pottery. This is
the journey that Furutani embarked on when he built his first anagama in
Shigaraki valley back in the late 1960's, early 1970's. I often speak of
dedication to a tradition, style and ideal, but when you survey the body of
work left by Furutani Michio, it is obvious that as he worked, he worked with a
keen appreciation for material and flame which over time, he became master of.
Few wood fire potters of the 20th century have left such a distinct testament
to a vision regarding the combining of the old and the new, his mark is measured
in each and every pot he made and kiln he built and fired.
Illustrated is a weathered Iga styled lugged
vase that has the spirit and appearance of antiquity. Cloaked in a fine sheen
of green ash, the posture of the vase is simple with a few errant marks made to
accentuate the vertical quality of the body and reign in the viewer at the neck
and mouth with a fence influenced design. The lugs anchor the neck to the body
and added a strength to the piece that speaks of body, shoulder, neck and mouth
in a rather profound way. Looking at vases by Furutani, his pieces rarely
looked fussed with, they are appropriate in design and scale and are stripped
of any extraneous features, creating perennial vessels that help set a standard
for modern Iga and Shigaraki pottery.
"Little do ye know own
blessedness; for to travel hopefully is a better thing than to arrive, and the
success is to labour." Robert Louis
Stevenson (1850-1894)
.JPG)