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.
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