Japanese Bonsai Potter of the week

Potter Focus -

7/10/2017

Here I will look at a different potter as often as possible, with some pot photos and descriptions.
This will also prompt me to ensure that over time I have each potter up to date!
Enjoy ..

2 - Wajaku

Ichihasi Wajaku is a very highly regarded, deceased potter from Kyoto. He started his bonsai pottery career aged 31, in 1964, and created mostly high quality unglazed pots, which were expertly carved from a single block of clay. This is a very time consuming process which if done this well, produces a pot with strength, integrity, and superb even wall thickness.
Wajaku produces a wide range of traditional shapes and styles of pot, with magnificent clean, straight lines, and wonderful detail. He also made some slab made pots.
Glazed pots by Wajaku are quite rare, but as a favourite potter of mine, I have acquired almost all I have come across.
The quality of his pots is first rate.

3 - Glazed pots

Unlike many potters, Wajaku also glazes the underside of his pot, but not the feet or stamp, (and obviously not the inside!)

2 - Unglazed pots - other shapes

Wajaku pots are not common, but his shapes and forms are varied, yet always simple, classical and quality.

A superb square semi cascade pot. Note how the cut corners continue to the feet - and how the walls curve slightly to the superbly carved basal band.

Another square cascade, quite different to the first. Walls remain straight, the corners are not 'cut', and a lip has been added to the rim.

The smooth clay finish, and expertly carved form and lines of this oval / mokko pot, to me has the sumptuous feel of an old leather rugby ball! An incredibly well made piece.

Tomorrow we will look at some glazed pots by Ichihashi Wajaku.
Thank you for reading, I hope you enjoyed seeing these superb pots.

1 - Unglazed pots - rectangles

Wajaku made a variety of shapes, all with different features. Note the various feet used, and different clays. Special attention was always given to the fine details.

A classical shape of rectangle known as 'shokodouin' after the inventing kiln perhaps 150 to 200 years ago. (from Japanesebonsaipots.net) This shape's popularity has withstood the test of time, and is a shape that Wajaku often made. It has superbly cut corners, cloud feet, slight lip to the rim, and a clean finish with straight lines, gentle curves, and a smooth sumptuous brown clay.

Beautiful stepped corner panels carved into the sides, to give a softer, more delicate appearance.

With more masculine lines cut into this grounded rectangle.

A 10cm mame rectnagle in a darker chocolate colour clay. Wonderful detail to the lower band/sash.

Approx. 40 years old, similar to the 'shokodouin' style above, yet thicker rim and added band toward the base.

A deeper masculine rectangle.

Shokodouin style in a darker clay.

A shallow rectangle, with fine incised corners, and additional kanjo outside of the Hanko.

Tojaku

To(u)jaku - born Hayashi Tojaku (1935) in Kyoto, this multi talented potter studied under one of my very favourite potters (for glazed and unglazed pieces); Wajaku. He has mastered the art of creating unique, precisely made pieces with great character and interest. His ability with paint is quite superb and his painted pieces are reasonably rare. All of the pieces I have come across have been mame and shohin sized pots.

4 - Painted Pots

Although his painted pots are far fewer in number than his unglazed & carved pieces, Tojaku creates painted pots to a superb standard. Im yet to see an akae (red) painted pot by him, however here are 3 beautiful painted examples I do have in my collection. (Again, these are not for sale.)

The above piece is a fantastic example of the superb standard of Tojaku's painted work. Produced in his heyday, around 30 years ago, the fine brush work in this piece, especially to the buildings and reeds, combined with an exquisite use of shading, give a great sense of depth and clarity. A wonderful sometsuke piece with sansui scenes (explained below), framed in deep cobalt windows, with arabesque patterns surrounding them.
With signed box and cloth.

This sometsuke (blue cobalt on porcelain) painted pot depicts a wonderful 'sansui' scene (landscape - literally; Mountain, water). Here the varied clarity of brushstroke, and negative space are expertly used to give perspective to the far bank. A solitary rock is portrayed to ensure the viewer sees this void as an expanse of water.

A pretty porcelain hexagon pot, enamelled in bold shades of red, blue and green. The wonderfully rich colours and superb use of the foliage as arabesque patterns make this a delightful piece. Art that combines nature with geometry.

Next we will look at the work of Tojaku's senpai, 'Wajaku'. Thanks again for reading!

3 - Carved Pots

This pair of dragon craved pots are beautifully presented in their own signed box with signed cloth, and represent a wonderful example of Tojaku's prowess in carving. The detail in the dragons is superb, and they really jump out off the pot at you!

In addition to the superb dragons, the pots have a 'band' to rim and base, with a row of rivets on each. Delicate cloud feet add a delicate touch to the pots.