I
received these photos from a friend of mine a long while back and in the
interim he has decided to stop collecting and has already disposed of 95% of
his collection just prior to a change in his location and lifestyle. While
collecting he had assembled a rather nice collection with a number of rather
fine Tsukigata Nahiko pots of which this particular mizusashi is one of them
baring the name; Snowy Egret. Though Tsukigata named his pieces on the odd occasion,
I have certainly seen very few pots named and in each case, those bearing a
name were exceptional examples, this mizusashi is certainly no exception. Of
classical form and Oni-Shino surface, this pot goes far beyond the pale with
almost the entire surface covered in a layer of natural running green ash
produced during one of Tsukigata's intensive and chaotic firings. The face of
the pot is covered in a rich brown triangle of ash, tamadare style where the
ash built up and began to show signs of scorching from the onslaught of fire
and free flowing ash. Though I have seen a few its equal, one would have to
admit, it does not get much better than this for the Oni-Shino style and the charismatic
and dynamic work of Tsukigata Nahiko.
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