Kuroraku chawan from Hibiki-an: good value?

[Chip]

Thank you John and others for an interesting discussion. So much of this remains veiled to the Western buyer/collector!

So, obviously kiln pieces are very important to the sustainability of a kiln, and any master associated with the kiln. As long as the buyer is well aware of the need and existance of said kiln pieces.

And obviously the lower the price, the less the master is involved in a production of a Chawan.

We can only hope that price is a reliable gauge of the amount of work put into pieces by the kiln's master, since obviously there is plenty of room for abusing the "system" through profiteering. And kiln stamps can be copied.

So it comes down to knowing and trusting your source!!!!!!!! There are clearly some sources that have lost the trust, I am thinking of the Hagi ebay seller we discussed a while back. I can list 5 problems with this seller that would preclude me from ever trusting this seller for anything but a 30 USD kiln piece, even though he supposedly sells high end ceremony chawan at huge discounts ... does that sound phony or what????

[Seeker]

thank you john,
you've written so well on the humble, artistic and business aspect of japanese pottery. what a great resource we here on TC are so lucky to have.
i would also really enjoy hearing, in your elegant words, about collecting tea ware.

Yes!
Thank you, a thousand thank you's to you JB!

I find myself very curious, and also intimidated at getting to know the nomenclature involved with the differing styles - shape, glaze, origin, etc, and I don't know a reliable source to use in building my knowledge.

cheers.

[JBaymore]

....... and I don't know a reliable source to use in building my knowledge.

Suggestion:

Robert Yellin and Morgan Pietelka are a good place to start for SERIOUS understanding of the world of Japanese ceramics.

Robert's knowledge is both broad and deep.
http://www.e-yakimono.blogspot.com/
http://www.e-yakimono.net/

Morgan's books on teaware are a good source of info.
http://www.oxy.edu/x9743.xml
http://www.amazon.com/Handmade-Culture- ... t_ep_dpt_1
http://www.amazon.com/Japanese-Tea-Cult ... pd_sim_b_2

If you want a good (although dry) read on the REAL workings of the Japanese ceramics scene from the sociological and business point of view, and focusing on the Mingei side of things, get a copy of the book "Folk Art Potters of Japan ; Beyond an Anthropology of Aesthetics" by Brian Moeran. http://www.potters.org/subject31115.htm/ It is a GREAT enlightenment to the politics, the socail issues, the economics, and so on.
http://www.amazon.com/Folk-Art-Potters- ... 0824820223
It is an eye opener to those who have not spent time working in Japan long enough to start to "understand" the sub-currents.

best,

...................john

PS: Thanks for the kind comments folks. It is my pleaseure to share whatever I can. This is a field that I am heavliy involved in. Amongst other subjects, I teach a 400 level art history course called "History of Japanese Ceramics". And I make and sell teawares. And I spend time doing claywork in Japan. Snd so on.

[alan logan]

some time ago I stumbled on this site (I'm sure most of you know it):
http://www.ceramicstoday.com/
It is maintained by Robert Yellin, isn't it ?

[JBaymore]

some time ago I stumbled on this site (I'm sure most of you know it):
http://www.ceramicstoday.com/
It is maintained by Robert Yellin, isn't it ?

Nope ... that site is edited/maintained by Steven Goldate. Years ago I did some pre-publication manuscript review for one of his books. It is a very nice and informative site.

best,

...............john

[alan logan]

oops
why did I think that ?
thanks for correcting, John

anyway, I have just googled "robert yellin", as anybody can do, and found a webpage that could be immediately enjoyed:
http://www.japanlivingarts.com/?p=628
"Shigaraki Ceramic Artist, Otani Shiro: A recorded interview with Robert Yellin"

(don't miss "ceramics" in the menu)

[Seeker]

Thanks JB! I'll be doing some reading.

Interestingly, I was at my favorite 'local' tea house today, and the owner and I were talking, and she talked about having a conversation with Robert Yellin, and that they talked about him maybe coming and doing a show.

Needless to day I shamelessly encouraged such an endeavor.
I hope it happens. Might be awhile, but I really hope...

ps - I would be equally excited if such a thing were to have occurred (or were to occur) with you JB, or Cory, or RF, or MC. But I think none of you have happened to meet Winnie.

[Robert Fornell]

Thanks JB! I'll be doing some reading.

Interestingly, I was at my favorite 'local' tea house today, and the owner and I were talking, and she talked about having a conversation with Robert Yellin, and that they talked about him maybe coming and doing a show.

Needless to day I shamelessly encouraged such an endeavor.
I hope it happens. Might be awhile, but I really hope...

ps - I would be equally excited if such a thing were to have occurred (or were to occur) with you JB, or Cory, or RF, or MC. But I think none of you have happened to meet Winnie.

I'd always happy to send few things down Seeker and do a small show.

Best,
R

[JBaymore]

Thanks JB! I'll be doing some reading.

Interestingly, I was at my favorite 'local' tea house today, and the owner and I were talking, and she talked about having a conversation with Robert Yellin, and that they talked about him maybe coming and doing a show.

Needless to day I shamelessly encouraged such an endeavor.
I hope it happens. Might be awhile, but I really hope...

ps - I would be equally excited if such a thing were to have occurred (or were to occur) with you JB, or Cory, or RF, or MC. But I think none of you have happened to meet Winnie.

I'd always happy to send few things down Seeker and do a small show.

Best,
R

Ditto.

best,

.........john