Richard Mahaffey on fri 4 oct 02
$25,000.00 US for a pot. In 1996 while I was living in Japan I was
fortunate enough to meet Imaizumi Imaemon, who was a Ningen Kokuho or
Living
National Treasure. He was a very kind a generous person.
While talking to him I gave him a small cup and a saggar fired "rock"
(Thrown and paddled to resemble a rock form). He was very interested
in the Tenmoku
glaze on the Guinomi (Sake cup) and in the firing technique for the
saggar piece. I started by telling him that I made them in the USA.
We talked about the
glaze in general terms. He asked some questions.
Then he took me over to see one of his newest pieces. He said, "I made
this". It was a porcelain piece of about 16 inches in height and 10
inches in diameter.
It had a lovely mottled gray color that had a slight brownish cast. He
asked me if I could tell what the colorant was. I was an odd color so
I went through the
list molybdenum...no, manganese, no nickel, no...I new I had seen
something that reminded me of the color, but could not place it. I
asked him if it was silver,
he said no it was not. Then he told me it was Uranium. I told
Imaizumi that when I first started potting you could get uranium, but
that it was not available for
purchase any more. He told me that he could get it because he had a
license to purchase very small amounts.
Anyway to make a long story long. As I looked at the pot I started
counting the zeros on the price in yen and then did a little division in
my head and realized
that the price was more than four times the value of my house when I
bought it. The pot was priced at $260,000.00 US. Now that's an
expensive pot.
And no I did not handle the pot!
Rick Mahaffey
Tacoma, Washington, USA Where tomorrow should be dry and sunny.... fine
motorcycle weather.
Philip Poburka on sat 5 oct 02
To me...this kind of thing seems merely fatuous and
'nuts'...it is an
embarassment that a 'Pot' should become so absurd or abused
of a
'value'.
The decadance is so specious, I am stunned...maybe I am
ashamed for them as well, that such idiocies exist at all.
If I trouble myself to recall, so called "Norma Jean's" used
(guarenteed to be 'unlaundered') cotton
'panties' have, or would again, bring 'millions' of U.S
Dollars in Japan...it helps me understand them maybe a
little better.
The stuff they pay thousands for in the 'private'
Clubs...for a few minutes 'worth', would feed a 'Village'
for a Year.
Otherwise, the ingenuous or the wholesome is so much more
interesting to me
than the absurdities, totemics, fetishes and postures of
'oriental 'or other decadence.
...almost depressed...If sincerely,
Phil
Las Vegas
----- Original Message -----
From: "Richard Mahaffey"
To:
Sent: Friday, October 04, 2002 10:08 PM
Subject: Pricey pots
$25,000.00 US for a pot. In 1996 while I was living in
Japan I was
fortunate enough to meet Imaizumi Imaemon, who was a Ningen
Kokuho or
Living
National Treasure. He was a very kind a generous person.
While talking to him I gave him a small cup and a saggar
fired "rock"
(Thrown and paddled to resemble a rock form). He was very
interested
in the Tenmoku
glaze on the Guinomi (Sake cup) and in the firing technique
for the
saggar piece. I started by telling him that I made them in
the USA.
We talked about the
glaze in general terms. He asked some questions.
Then he took me over to see one of his newest pieces. He
said, "I made
this". It was a porcelain piece of about 16 inches in
height and 10
inches in diameter.
It had a lovely mottled gray color that had a slight
brownish cast. He
asked me if I could tell what the colorant was. I was an
odd color so
I went through the
list molybdenum...no, manganese, no nickel, no...I new I had
seen
something that reminded me of the color, but could not place
it. I
asked him if it was silver,
he said no it was not. Then he told me it was Uranium. I
told
Imaizumi that when I first started potting you could get
uranium, but
that it was not available for
purchase any more. He told me that he could get it because
he had a
license to purchase very small amounts.
Anyway to make a long story long. As I looked at the pot I
started
counting the zeros on the price in yen and then did a little
division in
my head and realized
that the price was more than four times the value of my
house when I
bought it. The pot was priced at $260,000.00 US. Now
that's an
expensive pot.
And no I did not handle the pot!
Rick Mahaffey
Tacoma, Washington, USA Where tomorrow should be dry and
sunny.... fine
motorcycle weather.
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