LASTING IMPRESSION

Ilustrated is a graceful, four sided henko hanaire by Mukunoki Eizo. I guess I should say that this is graceful for mingei pottery but it does have that stoic sense and posture about it with soft and crisp lines defing the pot that is decked out in a slightly mottled shinsha red glaze with spots of almost apple green jade coloring scattered about the base and elsewhere. I think it is rather clear to see what a lasting impression that studying with Kawai Kanjiro had on Mukunoki Eizo where he made note of the lines, proportions and posture of the masters work and tried to infuse them in his own unique forms. Despite the genesis for Mukunoki's forms and surfaces coming from the Kawai-mon, he was able to chart a course that distinguishes itself from Kanjiro whose forms seems to be more dominated by sturdy and compact geometry while this pot reaches for the vertical and has a lighter profile and volume. Another aspect of this vase that I enjoy is the sense of purpose it displays, this vase was made to use, its primary concern is function with the aesthetics of form and surface perhaps seperated by just nano-seconds in consideration. The ideal was sculpted over time by the potter before a multi-part mold was made to cement the form into reality, so no small amount of planning and consideration went into the original design, mold and the final object and I think that is on display in this classic shinsha form.