THE OLD STYLE

This jpeg is another image I have had on my computer for quite some time and every time I look at it, it feels as if I am looking back in time. Made by Nakagawa Jinenbo (1953-2011), this Karatsu style kohiki mizusashi looks like it was made much earlier then in actuallity being a product of the Heisei era. The casual faceted form has a timeless, weathered, cracked surface that appears much more feudal than modern and shows a great dedication to Ko-Karatsu which Nakagawa specialized in making pots in a wide variety of the old styles using traditional methods, clays, glazes and kiln firing. I have seen a wide array of pottery by Nakagawa in Japan and over the years and I am particularly draw to his kohiki style which shows such inspired subtlties and are the epitome of casual in their creation. It is a great tragedy that such a gifted potter left at such an early age, one can only wonder what great pots he would have left behind beyond those already made and fired in his unique and old style way.