INTOXICATING

It has been warm here, I know, it's summer and it is warm just about everywhere but  the weather is more like a force than anything else and the humidity doesn't help especially while I am trying to get pots to dry. Enter this cool blue and refreshing piece by Ono Kotaro, the undulating channels which are deeply carved radiate with coolness of the seiji glaze which breaks to a thin white on the ridges. Like naturally sculpted ice, the atmosphere of this semi-triangular kensui is highly intoxicating, even mesmerizing in its simple elegance which I can only imagine is a wonderful addition to a summer tea ceremony; would its cooling contemplation keep the viewers just a bit cooler?

On a side note, I am rather amazed at how few kensui actually come my way. I suspect that most collectors gravitate to chawan, then mizusashi, chaire, tsubo/ hanaire and useable pieces like guinomi, yunomi and tokkuri before they think about the humble and essential kensui which probably is as overlooked as futaoki. I can say having seen this Ono Kotaro kensui in person, it would be very difficult to overlook this piece and even harder to put it down!