A
friend sent me a file filled with Japanese pottery pictures the other day and
in it were two pictures of the same chawan that I put together as a single
photo. Illustrated is a E-Shino chawan by Hayashi Kotaro (1940-1981), brother
and mentor of Hayashi Shotaro and one of the original post-war Mino stand outs.
His work is clearly and firmly rooted in the Momoyama revivalist mode and
though conservative, it is both fresh and invigorating. The surface and
painting are just right for this generous bowl which is accompanied by an added
touch of a thoughtful and considerate potter; a wrapping cloth with both
painted image and signature to help protect the bowl. There are a number of
potters who provided painted or elaborately signed cloths and shikishi (even kakejiku)
with some of their best and exhibition pieces and others who do so on the
request of a patron or collector or just on a whim. Either way the added touch
goes a long way to tell the viewer, "I care about this pot and hopefully,
you will as well".
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