Another View from the front of my house.

This is another view from the front of my house. The yellow shrub is a maple and the reddish tree is a flowering plum. When Estelle and I laid out the gardens we always tried to leave space for the eye to travel - we had no wish to be completely closed in.

One of my Bizen style pots

This jar was fired under the side stoking and has ash spill on both sides and some lovely flame marks on the front. After Iga pots, these dark Bizen pots are amongst my favourites.

View from My Dining Room

This image was taken last week and is now gone. The blossom is finished as it only lasts a very short time. I have about twenty different blossom trees so their flowering period extends over quite a long time and so I can enjoy an extended Spring.

Estelle's Salt Kit

This salt kit, made by Estelle, was fired in one of our first anagama firings and has been in constant use since then. The shape is pretty original and the colours are just wonderful. It is a pleasure to pick it up to use.

Blue Rhododendron

This "blue" rhododendron is just coming into flower, but, like all so-called "blue" flowers, is a somewhat in between colour that is hard to describe. Never mind though as it is really beautiful at the moment.

Old Shigaraki Pot

This old Shigaraki pot I found in Wellington earlier this year. How it got to New Zealand or how old it may be is anyone's guess. There are no marks to indicate a maker but I'm sure it is from the Shigaraki area and it does appear to be old.

Another Teapot from our collection.

The story behind this teapot is too involved to write up here but was purchased in Japan at the time of the Korean war. It is signed with a very authentic looking Kenzan signature but may be by one of his followers. It has lovely decoration in the Kenzan style so who cares whether it is genuine or not.