There is just something so intoxicating about a good
wood fired pot. Over the years I have tried to put my finger on exactly why
they are so appealing but as I ask the question an exact reason still escapes
me. There is something so elemental, primal and honest about the process of
shaping clay and placing it within a kiln and then unleashing a premordial
energy and ferocity into the mix which despite a potters best intention and
skill does what ever the heck it wants. The truth is that every firing is
different than the previous for a variety of reasons from how packed the kiln
is, placement of pots, stoking, external temperature, barametric pressure and
any other variable that can create great pieces or doom a firing. The
illustrated bowl shows off the potential of a well placed bowl in a woodkiln
and the mastery of a potter who knows how to exploit his clay, process and
firing. Made by Shimaoka Tatsuzo this wonderful bowl shows off his skillful
zogan technique together with a rich rusty purple fire color and a face covered in
running ash where the piece confronted the fire, head on. I may not have
figured out exactly where the love of such pots stems from deep in my psyche
but I take solace in knowing that I am not alone.
.JPG)