INDIGO

Illustrated is a small covered jar from several firings ago where the firing was about equally split between soda blue, golden amber, Oribe and temmoku & ash pieces. This small combed dervish jar was thrown out of stoneware and coated in slip where the body and upper shoulder are separated by incised lines which also divide the differing textures. The upper shoulder and lid continue the dabbled texture along with some more incised lines and the finial was quickly brushed with slip after seating it in place. There is nothing very complex about this pot though the varying techniques do seem to create bands of texture that help animate the piece a bit but perhaps the most eye-catching feature is the rich almost indigo blue that has collected around the bottom, the widest part of the jar that is so rich and deep as to add just a hint of mystery to the piece. I really enjoy making these small covered jars, they fit between larger serving pieces and to some degree, you are never quite sure how they will turn out, each one is its own unique little universe.