The other day I ended up
using a Shigaraki chawan hidden in shadows and highlighted by sunlight for a
Season's greeting photo and thought best to show the piece in a more formal
portrait. This haikaburi style Shigaraki chawan was made by Kohyama Yasuhisa
when back when in Showa 48 (1973) and is illustrated in an exhibition catalogue
from that year and in person or illustration has that timeless appearance.
Though a rather early chawan by Kohyama, overall he has maintained a rather recognizable
style from form, lip and kodai and because of that this the classic fore-runner
of chawan made decades later. As for the surface created by one of the earliest
anagama in The Valley since the 18th century, there are three distinct panels
from crusty, dark ash to thin glass to rich fire color punctuated by small ishihaze,
stones and feldspar popping out here and there. Added all together, the
features like an alchemist's formula come together to create a bowl that sits
rather nicely in the hand or on display and offers all of the tidbits that contemporary
Shigaraki pottery is well known for.
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