KEEPING COOL

Made out of locally dug Echizen clay and wood fired, this guinomi exhibits a gem like quality that is of course further enhanced by the rich bidoro drop on the front (?) of this piece. Born into a rather well known pottery family, Yamada Hiroshi is the son of Yamada Kazu and grew up in and around clay, a family where clay permeates the pores and makes its way into the fertile Echizen pottery tradition of the region. This guinomi belongs to a fellow collector in Europe who has an eye for tokkuri and guinomi and this particular piece sits perfectly among the rest of his collection. Like with many of the guinomi that I gravitate toward, this Yamada Hiroshi piece has that "mini-chawan" appearance with a simple yet fluid form, excellent surface and interior and is perched perhaps a bit precariously on a wonderful foot that creates lift to the overall ambiance. I thought the light and casual nature of this Echizen guinomi was perfect as spring moves toward the heat of summer where the contents and quiet aesthetics can contribute to keeping one cool despite its origins in such intense heat.