CRAZEY BLUE MONDAY

Illustrated is a kannyu seiji chawan by iron specialist, Takahashi Wasaburo. I have written about this potter several times previously in my blog and hold a special place for him as his was the first Japanese chawan that my wife and I ever collected. I am drawn to Takahashi's work as there is a casual, unfettered simplicity to his work, it just happens, he doesn't need to fuss to throw the least encumbered form. This chawan is a simple bowl with classic lines, thoughtful purpose and casual form with a rich, crazed blue celadon that coats the piece and brings it to life with the decoration created within the glaze itself. Where the glaze has run off the lip just a bit, the mouth is bordered by a slightly darker hue bringing attention up and into the interior. Though this bowl appears common in certain respects, there is nothing common about it and the kannyu crackle makes for an endless dialogue between chawan and user, the cha is just the added bonus.

"Simplicity is natures first step, and the last of art."  Philip James Bailey (1816-1902)

A crazy video for a Monday, Kate Bush; RED SHOES