Portrait of An Old Jug and Bowl

nothing more than a near approximation ..

Portrait of An Old Jug and Bowl

The original cream porcelain slip

was initially thrown

around seventeen fifty and fired

by all account maybe

five whole years later in a small

almost forgotten lost

     mountain village wood fuelled kiln ..

Today, both the jug

and bowl maintain near perfect

form and integrity

just as they did during the entire

     manufacturing process ..

Yet still they showcase the beauty

of blue bamboo shoots

all set against a backdrop of three

gold leaf cranes in flight

and a shower of chrysanthemum

now resting comfortably

upon the white veined black marble

flagstones of my recently

     renovated ensuite bathroom floor ..

Author's Note

I need away but maybe one day perhaps ..

Reviews

[Einstein Noodle]

much respect for the old jug and bowl, Nev! the word painting sparks me nog into energetic exercise ... in fact ... i can feel my beer belly starting to shrink from it ;) seriously tho .. those ancient pieces of art in pottery from the mystical Orient are beautiful treasures ... i especially appreciate the crane .. so graceful and calm set upon white veined black marble ... i hope you have bamboo growing and a hot rock soaking tub in there as well my friend!
E.

[Neville]

Flippin heck .. I forgot to mention the bamboo .. but you nticed and I owe ya big time brother G .. N

[Einstein Noodle]

luv ya man! wonderful Easter time to ya and yours!!

[Neville]

Happy Easter Gene .. Enjoy to the hilt ya hear 😎👍

[Thomas W Case]

A richly detailed meditation on time and craft—history preserved in quiet, elegant permanence.
The contrast between past and present grounds it beautifully, letting the object carry its own enduring story.

[Neville]

many thanks Thomas .. much appreciated .. Neville

[Ken Simm.]

This truly is a portrait of the floating world and I love its deceptive simplicity.

[Neville]

it takes after its founder Ken .. thanks a minion, yours truly, Me 😎👍

[Chris Shaw]

Your precious crafted jug and bowl collectible set is a survivor of the past living in the present. Most appropriate for it to be on your bathroom floor. A reminder of how daily life has changed with the passing of many years. It certainly isn’t an item that would grace my family bathroom for fear of clumsy. I hope these lovely items endure. I have my great grandmother Martha’s writing set, which used to sit on my Great Grandfather’s polished bureau. Now wrapped up in bubble wrap for fear of doing it damage. Every now and then I take it out of its wrappings and sit and hold it and keep them both in my thoughts. Heirlooms to be passed down the family. I travelled to many places in your words today Neville. Beautiful poem.

Chris

[Neville]

thank you our Chris .. she is rather lovely 💜

[Lorry]

And to think how many wars that old jug and bowl saw and survived, probably more than their owners.
If antiques could talk they would only laugh at us ever so fragile, always dying of one thing or another humans. 😃

[Neville]

Cheers Loz, I'm told Satsuma, early Meiji period me old fruit .. Neville 💛👍xxx