International studio (15.1901/1902(1902))

Studio-Talk

“a life class”

BY YOSHIO MARKINO

produced in the manner known as Oribe, from the
name of the artist who originated the style. It is
adapted only for the display
of an extremely simple ar-
rangement of flowers, such
as would be used on the
occasion of a tea ceremony.

The vase has been slightly
cracked, and one of the
protuberances or “ ears,”
damaged, both defects
being repaired with gold
lacquer. It is fashioned by
hand with the help of a
wooden spatula, and with-
out recourse to the wheel.

The marks made by the
fingers and the spatula are
retained, but not obtru-
sively so. It is essentially
a potter’s piece. Its real
beauty lies in the success
of certain processes of
manufacture of which the
potter alone is cognisant.

The clay itself is a fine
and compact earth. The
underglaze with which it is
partly covered is manipu-

STUDIO-TALK.

ONDON.—Mr. Yoshio Markino,
whose entertaining character-
sketches of London outdoor life
are reproduced this month, is
a young Japanese artist, and his work shows
clearly the influence of European methods on

L

' MORNING AND EVENING : COLOURED RELIEF

BY_JAMES R. COOPER

57

lated in a strange manner with great skill;
and the soft green overglaze, with its
splashes of blue and purple, is a poem of
sweet harmonious colour. The richness of
the overglaze is rendered still more effec-
tive by contrast with the dull earth and the
partial underglaze. The very roughness of
the pot thus contributes to its value. No
machine-like perfection of form, no hard-
ness and rigidity of outline, no floral nor
other painted subjects are to be found in
or upon it.

But it is, nevertheless, a witness ot art
applied to the potter’s craft, for the coun-
terpart of which we may seek in vain
among the works of many of the great
potters of modern Europe.

Charles Holme.

( To be continued.')