LEGACY

In the recent post, BASHO MIKOMI I used a picture of the inside of a Furutani Kazuya Iga chawan that made its way here somewhat recently. As a result of the post, I received an email asking about the chawan and at the very least could I post an overall picture of the piece which is a rather simple, feudal and rustic bowl. Illustrated is the very first picture I took of the chawan using only natural light and luckily a ton of fine details just popped out from the totally covered ash surface and varying coloration to melting feldspar punctuating the bowl, bursting like stars shining across the surface. There are brilliant, emerald like areas of deep, rich bidoro tucked away in nooks and crannies like around the foot exterior which just add to the throwing marks and inviting form and slightly meandering lip. All of these details add depth and substance to this chawan which maintains its elemental posture under the weight of its feudal pedigree and dependence on tradition and the eloquent tutelage of one of the 20th centuries finest Shigaraki/ Iga potters, Furutani Michio. It may be somewhat presumptuous but it is easy to make the case that seeing this chawan, Furutani Kazuya  both maintains and expands on a long standing tradition while adding to the Furutani legacy.