ALL IN

A short while back I put up a blog post on a rather unique approach in terms of form and concept to making a mizusashi by Mino potter Kato Yoji. Having the opportunity to handle and live with the wood fired haiyu mizusashi when the opportunity arose to handle a haikaburi style chawan, I was all in and the photo is the result of that encounter. Appearing to be made by hand, not thrown, the form was created using slabs of clay to create the form and while that is apparent looking at the exterior of the chawan the interior has been worked, scraped and smoothed and perfect for its intended use and the semi-fragile nature of the tea whisk. Once the bowl form was finished a carefully applied coil was attached to complete the weel conceived and perfectly functional foot, thus completing the form. 

Though I am not 100% sure when, a layer of black to brown slip was applied to the clay prior to it being loaded in to the wood kiln which has further enhanced the ash that has built up and landed on much of this bowl. As you can see the finished piece is quite rugged in appearance and the face none the worse for the ferocious process it was subjected to where shell scars and built up ash paint and abstract portrait depicting a landscape that echoes a sense of survival where a surface and form work hand in hand to create not only a unique chawan but also an object that demands one's attention in use or simple appreciation. What I can say after this additional encounter with Kato Yoji's work is that if two encounters has been more than enjoyable, certainly three would be even better.