Helen Mason

It is with great sadness that we hear of the death of Helen Mason who died on August 22nd. aged 99 years.  Helen did so much for pottery in New Zealand with her writing and editing of the New Zealand Potter Magazine as well as helping young potters to get established. These two pieces of Helen's have been in our collection for many years and are used regularly as they are so fit for purpose.

More on Rice Straw and Other Markings

The top image is of Fujii Sensai wrapping a tokkuri (sake bottle) with straw before firing it in the Kamaka anagama.  The ring bottle is one of Estelles with hidasuki markings.  The platter is one of mine but the markings are fire marks on the clay through the constant flow of the fire over the clay during the very long anagama firing.

Hidasuki Rice Straw Markings

This quite large floral container was fired in our anagama using rice straw as a separator for three small pots placed inside.  We found that New Zealand rice grass produced these lovely hidasuki colours that are very similar to Japanese hidasuki effects.  We found the New Zealand rice grass growing on our property on the West Coast which was lucky as it does not seem to grow around here.

Another View of Old Barn

This view of the old shearing shed is from the other side - I must keep watch for a day when they are shearing when the place is open and there is some activity.  The top picture is of my old acacia with a rainbow appearing right behind.  The colours changed so quickly that I nearly missed them.