SET TO POUR

Illustrated is a diminutive Shigaraki sueki inspired tokkuri by Kohyama Yasuhisa. At first glance it seems a rather simple, useful bottle at the ready and set to pour with it leaning posture attesting to its eagerness to pour. The surface has a complex range of shades and textures all created through the process of making the pot, loading it in a kiln and throwing wood in to the kiln to reach a desired temperature but as you can guess there is so much more to it than that. These surfaces have been a lifetime in the making, trial and error and year after year of making pots and firing them and making records of results, nuances and changes in the pots themselves after all this is what wood firing is. The slight lean to the tokkuri as if made to first face into the ferocity and velocity of the firing and once fired its posture inviting the user to make use are communicated through this form. There are a great number of pots that hide their true nature in a cloak of simplicity and this Kohyama tokkuri is certainly one but as you take the time to really look at the piece its truest nature is revealed.

KOH-TSUBO

Illustrated is a rich, little Shigaraki ko-tsubo by pioneer and innovator, Kohyama Yasuhisa. For me, his work never fails to impress, whether older traditionally inspired teaware, shuki or cutting edge "object". This great, little pot at just 4" tall tells a nearly complete story of Kohyama's work; Sueki inspired form, anagama fired, lyrical posture, simply executed and cut decorative lines, rich hi-iro  and just the right amount of traditionally fired surface. Immediately recognizable as his work, Kohyama has spent his life dedicated to the infusion of ancient Sueki pottery with the energy and spirit of the present day. Each pot is a gift from the marriage of earth and fire which Kohyama Yasuhisa officiates over with a lifetime of experience and a very sharply defined aesthetic.

EMA HIROSHI

Illustrated is a tokkuri by Ema Hiroshi (b.1953). Ema studied in Bizen and now works in Honju. Using indigenous clays from the area and making Someya-yaki, Ema is committed to make simple and traditional wares almost as a counterpoint to our modern age. This piece and all of his work is fired in a large or medium sized wood fired anagama. More of his works can be seen at the Vessels.jp website;
http://www.trocadero.com/Dabido/catalog.html

What drew me to this piece is the ancient Sueki tokkuri form and the banding of varying hi-iro colors that circle the base and foot of the piece. This modern rendition of an ancient form is timeless, inviting and comforting and shows the essentials of form without any superfluous additions. One of the real pleasures of this piece is the warmth it exudes while being used and the sound of the sake as it pours out of the mouth. It reminds me of a babbling brook breaking over small rocks. It is quite wonderful how such a simple hand made object can bring a certain amount of solace to a hectic environment.