The most representative type of pottery in
Shimaoka's work is that in ash-glaze
with rope-impressed inlay pattern. The ash glaze is of the type called Namijiro
(ordinary white) in Mashiko and is usually transparent. Shimaoka used a mixture
has recently switched to Akami clay and wood ash. After forming the vessel,
impressions are made on the surface with a braided cord, and white clay is inlaid
to create a pattern. The ash glaze covers the whole piece with a transparent layer
of quiet and rich texture. When kaolin is fortified, the glaze becomes milky to
produce a semi-transparent matte effect. Shimaoka subtly controls the milkiness
of this ash glaze by modifying its kaolin content: lt is sometimes transparent to
clearly show the inlay pattern, and sometimes white to partly cover the pattern.
In all its variations, the ash glaze presents the rope-im- pressed inlay in a most
straightforward way. This glaze allows the various patterns inlaid upon the surface
of variously shaped vessels to show through in different degrees. The basic
rope-impressed patterns are the parallel lines of various thickness, which Shimaoka
calls suji, the minute checkers called pochi, the herringbones called yabane.
These can be employed singly or in combination. To these sometimes are added
other inlaid patterns made with other tools, such as lines, circles, plants,
plum blossoms, wood grain, flowers, seal impressione and arrow feathers,
and these all get to be enveloped in ash glaze. Some vessels with rope-impressed
inlay patterns also have circular windows with handdrawn decorations,
but these designs - usually drawn in iron glaze - are always subdued in
colour in keeping with the quiet nature of ash
glaze.
italiano Click here to enter the different
descriptive sections of the exhibition.
Tecniques Not Used with Robe Impressed Inlay.
Mixed Techniques.
Colouration.
Slip Dripping (Trailed Glaze).
Salt Glaze.
Kiln Effects.
TEXT: Click here for reading the
introductions.
Luca Patocchi, Curator of the Galleria Gottardo.
Adolf Zihler, collector.
Yanagi Sori, Message from the Japan Folk Crafts Museum, Tokio.
Bibliography.
Biography and most important exibits from Shimaoka Tatsutzo
ADHIKARA
CONTEMPORARY ART GALLERY