A
friend of mine recently acquired a rather large, exhibition quality O-tsubo by
Tsukigata Nahiko and it is quite a spectacular pot. At over 17" tall it is
of a classic tsubo form but the surface is anything but typical being a
showcase for a wide array of effects one will only see on a Tsukigata pot.
Displaying a rich ash tamadare style face with icy looking Shino around,
covered in varying thicknesses of natural kiln ash, the surface is alive and
very three dimensional. This detail of the mouth and shoulder shows some of the
richness and activity that cloaks the piece in a perpetually changing landscape
depending on lighting and vantage point. All in all, this is a stellar pot by
one of the great innovators of modern Japanese pottery and considering the new
owner was never going to buy another piece, this purchase came as something as
a surprise harkening back to the old literary adage; once more unto the breach.
(Photo
and permission provided by an anonymous
collector)
.JPG)