HJW 1953-2025

I learned recently of the passing of a fine collector and friend, Dr. Howard J. Waldman of San Diego. Howard was beyond generous and gracious and had collected most of his life from bonsai to glass paperweights and objects to modern Japanese pottery. He collected pottery up until a few years back where he donated a portion of his collection to the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, parted ways with some pieces and kept a few select pieces to enrich his new environment in San Diego. We bonded over pottery when he discovered Japanese modern pottery through my blog and shared a real love of the work of Tsukigata Nahiko though he was interested in mainly Ningen Kokuho. Howard had a dry and insightful sense of humor and wit and I can only remember disagreeing with him on one single event regarding a Bizen vase. He was always willing to share and was a wonderful springboard regarding collecting and was also willing to share his keen medical insights on more than one occasion. I mentioned Howard’s generosity and interest in Tsukigata, he was the first collector that I knew personally that had a rather nice Oni-Shino chawan and sensing my envy, one day it just showed up here as a gift to my wife and I as our anniversary present. I am sure there is a lot more that I could write about Howard but what I can say is that his presence was a gift and his passing will leave a void that his memory can only marginally fill, he will be missed.         

This photo was taken in Kansas City before Howard relocated to San Diego, the top shelf shows a small portion of his collection. From top left to right; Shimizu Uichi, Miwa Kyusetsu XI, three Shimizu Uichi, Tsukigata Nahiko Oni-Shino mizusashi and a very early Oni-Shino hanaire which was illustrated in the book, ONI-SHINO.