Soft white feldspar bordered by areas of rich, deep
iron filled with cells of texture and color cover this pot from head to toe
including the soft and undulating lid and purposeful knob. The truth is that every
time you see a pot by Sakai Kobu, the Kobu-Shino immediately identifies exactly
what you are looking at and though I have seen a number of mizusashi by him
over the years, it seems like it is much more common to encounter his chawan
than these larger pieces. As is readily apparent from the photo, Sakai throws
his pots so they appear like that have a softness to them, the curvy lines
almost look like the pot is in mid-collapse but it is these characteristic
attributes that are so appealing to the eye and to the touch that are only
accentuated by his skillful use of his modified Shino and iron glazes and his
use of slips under the surface. Each pot paints a landscape, a portrait, a
still life as the potter sees fit with his pieces resonating at different
frequencies to different viewers, this is the beauty of his
Kobu-Shino.
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