Illustrated is a tsubo of classical form and proportions with a modern
surface of an iron and ash rich Oni-Shino. This Oni-Shino tsubo is by Tsukigata
Nahiko and represents yet another facet to his work in which the use of iron
and addition of natural ash from the wood firing predominate the surface of the
pot. The Shino is used as much as a flux as a base glaze to aid in the melting
of the iron and ash which has built up wonderfully on the shoulder and at the
right temperature turned to a liquid and ran down all the way to the base of
the pot. In certain respects this tsubo is reminiscent of certain pottery of
the Arts & Crafts movement but under even casual observation, it is all Tsukigata.
The form borrows loosely from the tradition of feudal tea jars but as with
everything that he did, Tsukigata has put his own unique stamp on the pot from
the casually thrown pot and mouth to the highly active, flowing surface. Though
I have seen a great number of pots by Tsukigata Nahiko, I am never disappointed
in the nearly infinite variety created by blending the elements of clay, glaze
application and ferocity of fire that only "the" pre-eminent master
of Oni-Shino could achieve, time and time again.
(Photo used with the kind permission of a private collector.)
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