KONDO OBI

Over the years I suspect I have seen quite a few obi though with few exceptions I haven't really paid too much attention to them with the possibility of several by Serizawa Keisuke. In all that time I was aware that a number of obi had been painted or decorated by rather famous celebrities and artists including a rather wonderful example that has vivid calligraphy by Toko Shinoda and another by Morita Shiryu. As I said though obi aren't exactly on my radar and despite that fact in just the last handful of months I have encountered, handled and been shown a number of pieces with additions by the like of Tomimoto Kenkichi, Shimizu Uichi, Hamada Shoji and by Kondo Yuzo as illustrated here.

Most likely dating to the late 70s or early 80s this obi has a large front panel as seen in this illustration and a smaller panel on the rear when worn and depicted in a variety of pigments based on blue, red and silver to create one of his classic landscape designs. As is readily apparent the brush work is typical of the artist and has a lively feel to  it and creates one of those evocative far off locations that we dream of from time to time. What I have concluded after seeing these richly decorated obi by rather famous artists and potters is that I should probably be looking at obi far closer than I have in the past.