"AND POTS"

Though I don't think there is anything rare regarding guinomi by Tsukigata Nahiko, there really are not many illustrated in catalogues, books or portfolios. The majority of guinomi that I have seen are either ones I have encountered in person, perhaps a half dozen and the ones offered for sale on any variety of website. I have seen a number of really wonderful Oni-Shino examples with the Oni-Iga examples coming in second as to my personal preference. Illustrated is a rather nice Oni-Iga guinomi that comes in at a good size that fits well in the hand and is both easy to hold and appears rather easy to drink from (though I have not done so). The body of the form is wider at the bottom, tapering a bit and holding a good shot of one's preferred spirit while resting on a wide foot ring that shows off the three wad scars that seperated the guinomi from being perpetually attached to a kiln shelf. Unifying the form is the icy, light green glaze over which splashes of iron bring movement to the pot which has a slight appearance of a three dimensional Zen painting as you fondle the guinomi and spin it between your fingers. 

 As I said, I don't think this or other guinomi exactly rate as rara-avis but like most of the good works by Tsukigata Nahiko there is a rather unique and memorable exchange between pot and user with each and every encounter. It was the famous French author, Guy de Maupassant who said; "It is the lives we encounter that make life worth living" but somehow I think it is safe to wedge in "lives and pots" into his sentiment.