DIOSPYROS KAKI

Back in 1985 there was a rather wonderful exhibition of the pottery of Imai Masayuki at the PEABODY MUSEUM of SALEM which showcased the broad variety of his work from zogan inlay pieces, underglaze painted wares and even Jun style pottery. Despite the variety, there is a thread which binds his works together including the painted pieces which give a different face to his somewhat graphic style. The underglaze pieces were painted with cobalt, iron and other oxides before having a soft, white glaze or Shino put over them creating design and decoration quite separate from the precision of his inlaid, wood fired pots. Illustrated is such a pot where he has first incised a design and then added colored washes of cobalt and iron to accentuate the persimmon, the "divine fruit" design created on the mizusashi. The vivid decoration livens up the simple form and soft white surface making for a pot that is enjoyable to have a nice, long conversation with, perhaps over a cup of tea.