For good or bad, I must admit, I have a real “thing” for
covered pots; covered, jars, mizusashi, boxes and what have you. I know I have
mentioned this before but the mystery of what the interior looks like and “what's in the box” never cease to hold my attention and get my curiosity peaked to
say the least. Though the Oxford definition of a box is; “a container with a
flat base and sides, typically square or rectangular and having a lid”, a
ceramic box can be so, so much more. Illustrated is one of those ceramic box forms that is so
much more that the generally accepted idea of a box. This covered box has a
wonderful form with perfect fit and finish as well as being well suited to
function. Made by Bruce Cochrane, this was constructed out of multiple pieces
of stoneware, dipped in a wonderfully visual and textured crackle slip and then
wood fired, the interior has a liner glaze of Shino. Perhaps one of my favorite
hidden features of this covered box form is the ever so slight hint of green
glaze across the surface and where the glaze pooled a bit and to my eye, when
was the addition of green anything but a bonus? Great box, great texture and
what a wonderful surface, the ceramic triumvirate.