Wednesday, June 5, 2019

METALLIC GALAXY

I was looking for some  photos of a Tokoname pot yesterday and in doing so stumbled across this detail shot of the interior of the "golden mizusashi" that I posted up by Tsukigata Nahiko some time back. For the lack of a better descriptor, the interior and in fact most of the pot has an other-worldly appearance like something only the Hubble can glimpse and as you can tell the surface just seems to glow or luminesce by reflecting back all the light collected inside. In some respects I am reminded of what I would expect some distant planet made predominantly of solid metal to look like with areas of various elements coalesced  to paint the surface with all kinds of unique textures and color created as molten metal solidifies and creates  stunning crystals. The irony is that is probably exactly how this glaze came to be, heavily impregnated with various metallic oxides which through heat created an array of metallic like effects not unlike the so called manganese gold glaze used by modern American potters. I truly enjoyed seeing this very unique Tsukigata mizusashi though I suspect where there is one there are likely to be many, the visual texture was quite stunning and when on display it just irradiated the area creating its own intergalactic arena balancing reflected light and shadow and making the fullest use of form to command all available space.