INK & OXIDE

I am constantly on the lookout for good source materials regarding modern Japanese pottery from the post-war era to modern times; catalogues, magazines, brochures, books, all are welcome provided they fall within a range of potters, style and traditions that interest me. I recently received a very fine, Japanese bound catalogue from the late 60s on the potter Kawai Takeichi and as a bonus to all of the wonderful color illustrations there is a photo of his ink designs every couple of pages meant to compliment the oxide decoration on any given pot. Illustrated is a photo of one on Takeichi's classic which would have been placed on a molded plate form though the central elements of the decoration is also seen on more three dimensional pieces like jars and vases. There are a dozen of these ink design sketches, some next to the design on a ceramic piece but seeing design and pot together gives a sense of the careful and thoughtful consideration that a potter must give to skillfully blend form and surface decoration, a skill that Kawai Takeichi learned under the guidance of his master to which he put to the fullest and most eye pleasing manner.