I took this quick, impromptu
picture a short while back of this little pot by Tamba potter Nishibata Daibi (1976-2010). Marked
"cha-tsubo" (tea jar) on the box, this little chaire like piece
clearly shows a number of cues from his father's work, Nishibata Tadashi.
Thrown out of a coarse iron clay, the pot was quickly faceted opening a
wonderful texture in the clay before it was later glazed showing off that classic
Nishibata/ Nishihata style. Though small in stature, the tea jar shows off a
rather sturdy presence and instead of an ivory lid it is finished off in a
ceramic lid, clearly glazed in white to give the illusion of the normal chaire
lid.
Perhaps my favorite feature beyond the purposeful faceting is that
wonderful horizontal texture that moves vertically up the form showing through
some of the glaze surface until it just disappears under the opaque white at
the very top and shoulder. This is not a very complex pot but there are details
and subtleties that bring life to this little gem adding to the mystique and
appeal of a potter who had many more pots to make within a tradition his
contributions were made all the better for.
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