Philip Hafferty
Junior Specialist
Important works of art from an American private collection
Lot 831
NISHIHATA TADASHI (1948-)
An Ash-Glazed Sculptural Vessel
Heisei era (1989-2019), 2015
Heisei era (1989-2019), 2015
22 March 2023, 10:00 EDT
New YorkUS$6,000 - US$8,000
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Jeff Olson
Director
NISHIHATA TADASHI (1948-)
An Ash-Glazed Sculptural Vessel
Heisei era (1989-2019), 2015
The powerful faceted form hand-built from stoneware clay, with a rich covering of rice straw and burnt wood glazes
Wood tomobako storage box inscribed Kaiyūki (Ash-glazed vessel), signed Tanba Tadashi tsukuru (Made by Tadashi of Tanba) and sealed Tadashi in (Seal of Tadashi); artist's certificate with the same inscription, signature, and seal
11 1/8 x 23 7/8 x 14 1/8in (28.1 x 60.5 x 36cm)
Heisei era (1989-2019), 2015
The powerful faceted form hand-built from stoneware clay, with a rich covering of rice straw and burnt wood glazes
Wood tomobako storage box inscribed Kaiyūki (Ash-glazed vessel), signed Tanba Tadashi tsukuru (Made by Tadashi of Tanba) and sealed Tadashi in (Seal of Tadashi); artist's certificate with the same inscription, signature, and seal
11 1/8 x 23 7/8 x 14 1/8in (28.1 x 60.5 x 36cm)
Footnotes
For his more recent work Nishihata has drawn inspiration from the ash-glazed ceramic heritage of Tanba (northwest of Kyoto) but instead of relying solely on flying wood ash in the kiln, he creates his own special glazes and applies them to the surfaces of his large vessels prior to firing in a noborigama (multi-chambered climbing kiln). His powerfully faceted potting style boldly transcends issues of functionality versus sculptural form, while part-planned, part-random surface effects achieve his goal of using clay art to evoke the water, forests, and peaks of his native region.