FIRST

This simple combed pot has had an interesting journey from when it was made until now and it sprung to mind after Friday's news. This pot was made as my first "mizusashi", based on a pot I had seen in a book on Tamba pottery and with some help from Bill, I threw it and then combed the surface with horizontal ridges and then it was stamped by Bill and I. I call this my first as it was made after just three months of making pottery, was my first wood fired pot and was the first pot loaded into the wood kiln that Bill and I fired in 1989. Of course the slight down side of being the first pot loaded  way in back of the kiln is that it didn't receive much ash with just a light wetness on the face and some speckled ash on the mouth. This was also my the first pot I sold and was used by a person who did chanoyu who had it fitted with a lacquer lid. Over the years this pot traveled all over the East Coast and then made its way to the West Coast and then when the owner was severally downsizing after 40+ years of collecting they sent it back to me while I was living in CT. From CT to PA, VA and then back to just within a stone's throw of where it was made (at PSUC) I pulled it out this weekend, photographed it and put it up on a shelf surrounded by teabowls made by Bill Klock over the years. I know it is not a great pot but it served its purpose over a number of years and now will serve its new purpose. Thanks Bill.