GLASSY GEM

Illustrated is a classic and rather wonderful chaire by Raku and Iga potter, Konishi Heinai.  As with many of these photos, this is not a photo I took or a pot that I handled but I certainly thought it worth sharing as a stellar example of Konishi's work which at first glance almost appears like it was dipped in a glass tank and coated in a beautiful coating of rich bidoro. The form is strong and medieval in appearance with a simple, even subtle design rendered around the pot which is further accentuated by the all natural ash that has covered this chaire. I have seen and handled a number of pots by Konishi Heinai over the years and can say without hesitation this may rank as the finest and my favorite chaire by him that I have seen; the surface is electric and shimmery like a coveted glassy gem which in all likelihood would be hard to play second fiddle to the chawan in use during the tea ceremony. Though this could be considered ever so slightly old school, I believe that pots like this will keep traditions like Iga on the straight and narrow and serve as an archetype into the future in the same way medieval pots served this function for potters like Konishi Heinai in the recent century past.