Iga Guinomi By Watanabe Aiko

[sabi]

I keep saying I'm done buying these, but here we are again!

 

An Iga vessel by my favorite yakishime artist has been on the want list ever since I acquired a Shigaraki variant by her about a year ago. Unfortunately they seem to be much fewer in number, which I'd assume is due to the higher loss rate that is inherent whenever pieces are put through multiple firings. The ones that do make it, however, are almost always magnificent.

 

This cup was thrown into a pail/bucket shape inspired by the Momoyama/early Edo period mizusashi of the same form. Repeated firings have taken their toll and this piece displays a riot of firing cracks, both inside and out, that are characteristic of Iga ware. Several ishihaze of varying size have also made their way to the surface, enhancing the already tortured look.

 

Very little remains of the peach toned Iga clay that entered the kiln, areas that aren't scorched or covered in ash build up morphed into various shades of burnt orange, crimson and mauve. If you look hard enough in this area, you'll notice the faintest trace of a dark green seashell pattern - the cup was laid down on this side with an actual shell underneath, which has been all but obliterated. A small pool of glassy green bidoro remains on one side, a product of molten ash glaze formed when the fire reaches its peak temperature of roughly 2,500 degrees Fahrenheit. The "legs" on each side formed by the runoff would have remained the same color after a single firing, but the repeated exposure in this case turned them a slate gray hue, and even charcoal black in some areas.

 

There exists an old stigma in Japan that the work of a female potter will always come off as feminine, and ages ago they weren't even allowed to do such work for fear of insulting the "kiln Gods". This, in part, is why there are so few women who work in the traditional woodfire discipline, feeding logs into a tunnel or climbing kiln for days on end. Perhaps it's my knack for breaking rules, rooting for the underdog, or just an overall progressive mindset, but I can't help but smile when taking a sip from this one - an absolutely brutal and powerful piece of Igayaki that looks like it was ripped from the earth.

 

Cheers!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[ken kata]

Wonderful Post..

 

Ed,

Keep Buying..  

Don't think of it as "Buying"..

More like...

 

     " Searching for things that are beautiful"..

 

 

Core Kyoto - Ceramic Treasures - Iga-yaki :

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PqE2vqAVz2c

[TETSUGENDO]

Facinating piece,so elemental (as in embodying the forces of nature).  Could have been brought up from the ocean floor after a couple of thousand years.  It has a brutal beauty.

[ken kata]

I think Shuichi Kato said it the best..

 

" It is not always possible, to have nature and chance to move together as you would like.

When these uncontrollable elements fall into place, then, you have a work of art "...

 

[TETSUGENDO]

Indeed.Ken, indeed.

 

Cheers,

[sabi]

Ken,

 

Fabulous quote, I'll just tell the wife I'm not buying things - merely seeking them out!

 

 

Steven,

 

You make a great observation about this piece having an elemental and tortured quality to it. To me, Igayaki (closely followed by Bizen) is the pinnacle of unglazed wares because of their emphasis on process and raw, organic beauty. The convergence of earth, fire and wood gives each piece its own unique landscape, and when combined with strong, waggish forms we are left with works that radiate haki. This can be translated as power, ambition and unconstrained spirit.

 

This mizusashi named yabure-bukuro (literally; burst pouch) is one of my favorite works of all time, and one day I hope to enjoy its massive presence in person.

 

 

[ken kata]

" elemental and tortured quality to it "

I agree..

That term "Tortured " is fitting, as, for the guys who did not know,

 these Iga " high temperature Clays"  can withstand multiple firings.

The video said they go thru the firing process two or three times, to get that "Distressed' /Tortured" look.

 

Cost wise, the time for each firing is $$$.

[TETSUGENDO]

Evan,

 

As for yabure-bukuro...... FORMIDIBLE!  What a striking piece.

 

Ken,

 

Costly yes..... But, Oh the results.

 

Cheers,,