IMAGINATION

Illustrated is an Oni-Shino chawan by Tsukigata Nahiko likely made sometime in the early 1980s that was originally put up on my blog and Youtube a decade ago as a slideshow video. This style of Oni-Shino is predominantly a feldspar Shino with some iron perculating up from the surface and a coating of ash about the surface having a passing resemblance to Bizen tamadare. As you can see the form is low and wide with a prominent and sturdy foot and lip that meanders just enough to get one's attention. The overall surface has wonderful punctuations of iron trying to seep out of the pocks of the glaze and there is a shadowy darkness under the white exterior composed of iron which together other features makes for an engaging landscape. Though this is neither my pot, nor my photo and I have not handled this piece, what I can say from previous observations is that this shape is sturdy and comfortable in the hand or just resting on a shelf, it has an almost defiant posture and commands its space with just the right lift from the kodai to create a wonderful shadowline and be just inviting enough to handle its form, feel its surface and get a sense of its weight, volume and presence. I realize a photo just does not suffice to fill in all the gaps but sometimes you have to make due with a crisp static image and a well tuned imagination or you can get a bit more perspective by going to Youtube.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L_AGtIE4w7k&t=49s