HALF & HALF

I had this chawan come and go quite a number of years ago but recently stumbled on to a folder with pottery that belonged to a collector who was moving and selling off much of his stuff. This somewhat early Furutani Michio Shigaraki chawan was one of a number of pots that I photographed at the time and what was the most memorable about this piece was that along with the half and half appearance of ash and hiiro, it was one of the most purposeful and functional teabowls that I had handled. It is easy to say that a pot is all business but in this case I think it is not hyperbolic to label it as such. Perfect size, perfect utilitarian form, lip, foot and features that all add up to a chawan that is just perfect for the job. The simple, solitary mark incised around the waist  helps break up the form while the shell impressions and the movement from ash to fire color adds to not only the visual experience but the tactile one as well. I think at the end of the day that being all business is really not such a bad thing after all.