LIVE OR MEMOREX II

I end up following a number of museums and galleries on Instagram and to be quite honest, everyday is something new, interesting and even exciting. Recently on the feed of the Shizuoka Museum of Ceramic Art, up popped a rather familiar vase, so familiar, I had to take a double-take to a shelf near my desk, a classic “live or Memorex” moment. Illustrated is a photo I took a while back together with an inset from the museum of a Nagasaki sancai hanaire by Yokoishi Kasuke XIII. While it was always quite clear these pieces were molded, hand finished and then meticulously glazed, it was still a somewhat surreal experience. I should note that I think everyone in this same predicament may say, hey, mine is better, but apart from the actual object itself, I will say, to my eye, the one here in the US has a much better glaze application with wonderful running gradation of colors and placement.   

On a side note, for anyone considering acquiring a similar piece or a piece by Yokoishi Kasuke XIII in general, these pots are sturdy, solid, weighty and by no means some half-hearted attempt at mass production. Though the wood signed box is a bit on the economical side, the vase and glazing is honestly top notch and if you like sancai or Nagasaki sancai in particular that this is likely the pottery and potter for you.