THROUGH & THROUGH

Looking a bit like this stepped out of the past, this guinomi has all the characteristics that appeal to my mini-chawan criterion. The posture, proportions, volume and ratio of the “bowl” to foot all fall within the miniature chawan style guinomi and in this case, Hagi, through and through. Made by Yamato Kiyoshi, this Hagi kohiki guinomi is filled with texture and antiquity, where the landscape keeps the eye darting about where the landscape of the piece changes dramatically as you turn the form around*.    

This simple, textural guinomi was made by Yamato Kiyoshi whose social media presence keeps one up to date on his work and firings. Having established his own kiln, the Meizan-gama in 2000, his work has been widely exhibited including at a number of traditional Kogei exhibitions and at the Takashimiya Department Stores. Though I have seen a number of his pieces, just judging from this singular encounter I think it would be a safe bet that not only the work is of a high level but it is clearly rooted in the Hagi tradition while clearly part of a new generation moving the needle forward, pot by pot.

(* Not necessarily a disco song reference unless you want it to be)