When
I am looking at pots there are pieces that are decidedly all about the surface
and glaze, a technique, painting or in this case being all about the form.
Tall, elegant the surface finishes off the form in a dark cloak with flecks of
aventurine shimmering about the pot as if dancing about only constrained by the
borders of the form that have been rubbed back to a rich rust color. Made by a
master of the studio pottery movement, Kawamura Seizan (1890-1967) of Kyoto
this piece is a bit different than the majority of his body of work where he
specialized in sometsuke and overglaze enamel painted pottery though this vase
is typical of his attention to detail and exacting understanding of form. At
many level I am reminded of a select group of the Meiji to early Showa studio
potters blended with hints of older Chinese monochrome porcelains without the
coldness and perfect sterility, this pot has a grace and appeal which is
seemingly all about the form but let's be honest the rich surface certainly has
something to do with it
.JPG)