John Dix is an American potter who’s been making pots in Hyogo Prefecture since 1995. He wood-fires his pots in his large anagama kiln for 6 days. The kiln produces large amounts of ash which cling to his pots to form beautiful and varied shino-like glossy surfaces.

This katakuchi holds about 450 ml of liquid. The pot’s organic shape gives it a wild and unfinished impression, but the angled spout pours in a well-controlled stream, and the twisted handle fits perfectly in the hand. These functional details alone speak to Dix’s decades of conscious practice making pots that balance natural forms with practical use.