PERIOD PIECE

Though possibly dated and perhaps a product of its time, this animated mizusashi was made by Kyoto potter, Kanzan Shinkai. Richly decorated in thick textured slip, slip resist and muted oxide coloration this tea piece by Kanzan has an appeal that translates as easily to today as the period in which it was made, the 1960s or early 1970s. The simple pattern is well orchestrated with the overglaze coloration and then is echoed in the custom made lid with triangular knob tying the pieces together. I am reluctant to say that Kazan is a guilty pleasure as that would not take in to account the highly influential and important body of work that he has left behind including his use of paper resist and thick textured slips and vivid colorations to bring his surfaces alive. This pot though a bit more sedate than some is a classic example of Kazan's pottery, a potter that Samuel C. Morse introduced to Carl A. Weyerhaeuser on their modern pottery trips to Japan in the 1970s, of which a fine bird appliqué bowl is now in the permanent collection. I should in fact apologize for using terms like "dated" and instead say, good work is  timeless and just a product of the period in which it was created. Is Kenzan dated? I certainly don't think so.