How does a piece qualify
to be
Wabi-Sabi ?Pieces in the Wabi-Sabi section are unique,
as they defy what some people consider perfect.
A hand made vessel results from a moment in a potters life. The
potter can make a similar shape year after year, but it is always changing. Each piece is subject to
accidental imperfections along the way.
The firing method is reflective of natural variations in process.
When firing with wood, intense heat can physically alter and mark the pot.
Some people might consider these marks to be imperfections.
Does a pot which has warped, make it less beautiful? To an
appreciative eye such a piece might be more beautiful because of its
imperfections.
A glaze may turn liquid in a wood firing a run down to the foot of a
vessel. Does this drip render the piece second quality or
improve its overall appeal?
Wabi-Sabi pieces have much to offer "if" you learn to see. Warping,
ash glaze runs and fire flows speak volumes about process. These
effects make some
of the most interesting pieces.
If a person can see beyond their conceived expectations.
Unexpected results do not always make a pot more interesting, But
when effects from firing and
unintentional marks of the potter combine, it can make a pot of
unparalleled beauty. |
Wabi-Sabi It is a way to see "the beauty in things as they are" imperfections and
all.
It does not mean accepting poor workmanship, to appreciate the
idiosyncrasies.
The natural drip on the rim of this vessel resulted from the pots
location near the firewall of the wood chamber.
Ash collected into
what is know as a "Tiger Eye" of glass that is about to drip off the
rim. Since the pot was fired on its side (note the wad marks in the front) rather
than in an upright manner as might be expected.
This permitted gravity to place the "Tiger Eye" in a horizontal plane
when the pot is standing upright.
The 16th century Japanese term, Wabi-Sabi,
is both a word and an idea, that has been making its way into western
culture.
Wabi (things that are humble).
Sabi (things which gain beauty from age).
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