ANTIQUITY ORIENTED

Illustrated is a composite image of a Shigaraki mimitsuki hanaire by Minagawa Takashi made clearly in a traditional style. This vase has a noble and antique sense to the form and bares every characteristic of a rather good firing with its shinzen style surface. The proportions and marks are well considered and are further accentuated by the wood firing. Though on occasion Minagawa Takashi relies on a variety of texture, much of his work is simple in form and execution with simple, defining marks that create strong and idiosyncratic works with an eye to work that is a balance of intersecting aesthetics; views of the tea master (chajin), potter (sakuhin) and the user, especially for tea and flower arrangement. Though Minagawa worked in a variety of styles and traditions, he is best known for his wood fired, Shigaraki pottery with its adherence to Momoyama and early Edo archetypes many examples with extraordinary surfaces that is focused on a singular purpose, tea ceremony.