On my first trip to Japan, I was fortunate to
encounter a wonderful exhibition showcasing primarily chadogu made by Kaneshige Michiaki, eldest son of Kaneshige Toyo. There was a wide variety of
pieces and surfaces each complimenting his forms and I distinctly remember a
very fine chaire that had been fired on its side, botamochi style very much
like this illustrated piece. The chaire was placed on a pad which then acts as
a "resist", keeping ash from building up on the surface and thus
creating this rather vivid area ringed by various attempts of the ferocity of
the kiln to paint the masked area, the results can be quite wonderful as seen
on this diminutive little giant. Back in the early 1990s there was a wonderful
series of videos which high lighted 90 of Japan's finest teaware makers, GENDAI
(no) Chato. Of the twelve vidoes, all but three featured 10 to 12 potters
however Kaneshige Michiaki was in one of only three videos which feaured just
three potters attesting to his standing in regards to making chadogu. This
chaire has everything you would want from rich surface to engaging and enticing
form obviously crafted by a master potter at the height of his skill; a
classic pot by a classic potter, Kaneshige Michiaki.
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