Friday, January 15, 2021

CAN I GET A ROLL WITH THAT, PLEASE? PART TWO

Over the years I have realized what a great yet fickle artist that gravity can be especially when it comes to pottery and glazes. As I have I have written about for my blog over the years, I love runny glazes and what effects may occur from the process of molten glaze affected by both chemistry and gravity. Currently as we all do, I count on gravity and in my case for determining the qualities that I have come to enjoy in the various Oribe(s) that I work with. 

As for the illustrated temmoku chawan I am not sure how much the potter planned for or encouraged gravity to affect his surface but this luscious temmoku roll where the glaze terminates is just wonderful. The thick glaze rolls down the pot a bit unevenly which enhances the color and texture of the clay acting a bit like a dark frame for the rather practical and efficiently cut kodai. This temmoku chawan was made by Kimura Morinobu, one of the three Kimura brothers (Morikazu, Moriyasu and Morinobu) who's work has a rather elemental appeal and despite my characterizing his work as functional and practical there is a common and honest beauty to his work which is very captivating and not so easily encountered.