Illustrated
is a well fired and somewhat formal Shigaraki hanaire by Honiwa Rakunyu II.
Excelling at making traditional chadogu, Honiwa's work is immediately
identifiable and processes a disciplined
dedication to the craft of tea ware and many of his pots have attested boxes by
both Buddhist priests and chajin alike. This vase created for the tokonoma
displays an extreme between front and back with the face coated in a rich
charcoal surface with melted green ash above the shoulders and the rear a
combination of warm flashed area at the center with ash in various hues about
the sides, base, neck and attached lugs; the pot has been painted by the fire
with a wide array of brushes making for a surface that has a rich story to tell
about its adventure. I was fortunate to have met Honiwa Rakunyu on several occasions
and see a large number of his chadogu many fresh out of the kiln, his formal
sense created objects for tea that most any chajin would be pleased to use.
There is little more that a potter can ask to leave behind as a testament to
his vision and dedication to a tradition at odds with and also perfectly in
step with a new century.
You
can see more of this vase over at my Trocadero marketplace;
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