Cloaked
in various hues of hi-iro and ash with strong tsuchi-aji, this Shigaraki
bottle-vase is by veteran potter, Otani Shiro. At first glance it appears a
nice pot but on closer inspection it is easy to see that this is a pot that
takes those 10,000 hours to create. The attention to the posture of the pot,
the finish of the foot, defining its termination, the casual lean of the neck
and mouth slightly askew all add up to make for a rather interesting piece. The
flashed surface adds to the vertical nobility of the bottle and a subtle set of
lines running around the shoulder are all of the intentional decoration that is
needed. There is a profound sense of appropriateness that many wood fired pots
possess as the potter gain mastery over just what to add without throwing the
entire piece into visual chaos.
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