TWO AUSPICIOUS BIRDS

Though a bit outdated and classically 1970s, this double framed ceramic tile was made by legendary Kyoto potter Shinkai Kanzan. I was immediately fascinated by this tile despite being a product of its time for a variety of reasons, from the exceptional use of texture, dimension, scale, subject matter and surface, all the details come together to present the whimsical portrayal of a mated pair of birds in a style only Shinkai could have pulled off. Though one might expect this to be some press molded tile, in fact the decoration was created separately, a slab of white stoneware was used as the base and using textured stamps, pieces-parts where created and assembled, appliqué style to the base. In all, at least eight separate pieces where applied to the base tile in such a way that a firm and complete marriage of components was employed to keep the tile from "falling apart" in the bisque or glaze firing. 

As you can clearly see the perfect choice of glaze was employed where it is rather opaque in the background and semi-transparent on all the detail painting a perfect portrait of the subject matter in textured detail. This tile as I mentioned is double framed and on the reverse of the frame is a hand applied label that reads, " SHINKAI KANZAN MADE THIS, CERAMIC PLAQUE, TWO AUSPICIOUS BIRDS". If the decoration, surface and detail didn't get my (our) attention than the great title certainly did and it is quite perfect for the house where The Birds reside.