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A Temoku Vase by American Pottter- Malcolm Wright browse these categories for related items... All Items: Artisan and Design:Ceramics:Pottery:Vases: Pre 1980: item # 688814 Please refer to our stock # ICHI 409 when inquiring.
Ichiban Japanese & Oriental Antiques Post Office Box 395 Marion, CT 06444-0395 203.272.7392 Guest Book $325.00 |
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| This lovely black and brown temoku vase by Wright was wheel-thrown in two pieces and joined together, the resulting seam easily felt on the interior of the vase. This process of joining two pieces of a pot is known as luting. The word "luting" implies the use of a moldable substance to seal a space or to cement two components together. The temoku glaze is a classic combination of deep black and brown with deep red brush strokes breaking through. The vase measures 71/8” high and is 6” diameter at the waist – it is signed by the artist, with his large looping “W”. Malcolm Wright was introduced to Japanese pottery making, while teaching at the Corcoran School of Art in Washington, D.C., where his lifelong vocation as a potter began. Wright apprenticed with the family of Tarouemon Nakazato, a 12th generation potter who was named a Living National Treasure in Japan, where a keen awareness of focus and technique, combined with his own experimental curiosity and various artistic influences led Wright to develop a unique style. Wright’s pottery and ceramic sculpture can be found in fine arts galleries in this country and in Japan. Wright’s work is made on a wheel- all wood-fired in a massive 30,000-pound kiln he built himself. The three-chambered kiln is patterned after the Nakazato family kiln, and requires a huge effort and a huge amount of wood to complete a firing. Mr. Wright fires his work on the average of 4 times a year, loading up to 350 pieces each time. He takes great care in the process, and then enjoys giving up control and letting the fire and wood ash mark the individual pieces in unpredictable ways that define their character Tenmoku (also spelled "temmoku" and "temoku") is a dark glaze with a surface that resembles oilspotting. It is comprised of feldspar, limestone, and iron oxide. The more quickly a piece is cooled, the blacker the glaze will be. Tenmoku's are known for their variability. While the glaze is molten, iron can migrate within the glaze to form surface crystals, as in the "oil spot" glaze, or remain in solution deeper within the glaze for a rich glossy color. A longer cooling time allows for maximum surface crystals. Potters can "fire down" a kiln to help achieve this effect. During a normal firing, the kiln is slowly brought to a maximum temperature by adding fuel, then fueling is stopped and the kiln is allowed to cool slowly by losing heat to the air around it. To fire down a kiln, the potter continues to add a limited amount of fuel after the maximum temperature is reached to slow the cooling process and keep the glazes molten for as long as possible. Tenmoku glazes can range in color from dark plum (persimmon), to yellow, to brown, to black. | ||||||||||||||
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