Illustrated is a serene Shigaraki
chawan by Shiga Prefectural Intangible Cultural Property, Ueda Naokata V
(b.1927). Perched atop a strong, stable foot the bowl has a seductive curved
form that is covered in ash on the face with vivid, wet fire color around the
back of the form and into the interior creating a piece of profound grace and subtlety.
The slight lean to the posture and undulation to the lip serves to welcome the
viewer to explore the form and enjoy the presence and utility of the pot. Ueda
Naokata V studied at the Kyoto Ceramic Research Institute and with his father,
Naokata IV (1898-1975) and together they helped revive the traditional methods
of anagama firing in the Shigaraki Valley for which both are held in very high regard.
Known for his creation of insightful and classic teaware (chadogu) Naokata V
has been collected by a number of museums throughout Japan and abroad and is
also included in a number of pottery compendium of modern Japanese pottery. We
were very fortunate to have been able to met with Ueda-san on each of our trips
to Japan in the 1990s and have a wonderful presento from our last visit to
always remind us of both the character and generosity of this legendary potter.
.JPG)