SPEAKING OF IGA-ORIBE

I had the opportunity to handle this rather interesting Iga-Oribe mallet vase a couple of years back. It has rather nice, if a bit slender proportions but the posture and sense to the pot made it rather appealing not to mention the rich painterly surface created through a combination of glazing and wood firing. Made by Mino veteran, Mizuno Takuzo, this vase is part of a classic body of work in this style by the potter which also includes Mino-Iga, various Shino surfaces, Oribe, Ki-Seto, Seto-Guro and quite a few others. Perhaps one of the really appealing features of this piece, besides the animated form is the wonderful pooled surface at the depressed area of the shoulder composed of rich, translucent blue-green on one side and a milky, cloudy light blue on the other caused by its proximity to direct fire during the firing process. Though a rather serious, Momoyama influenced pot, there is something quite spirited and lively about the pot, it just exudes a sense of the positive which I quite enjoy and gives  this Iga-Oribe mallet a certain degree of curb appeal and a touch of everyday nobility.