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.
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