Icefield This stone has a strong horizontal, spreading, feeling. I like this daiza for it - it seems to hold and frame the stone without fencing it in. The legs continue the movement of the stone and carry the weight out gracefully, but without attracting too much attention. The simplicity of the daiza harmonizes well with the simple shape of the stone, and ensures that the eye goes to the stone and not the base.

I use the term "contemporary" for a new, simpler style that many daiza makers have adopted in recent years. This style differs from the "traditional" in that it has only a single rim. It seems to work well for more informal stones, ones that share some the simplicity. I find that it can also work with some stones that have strong color or surface pattern.

Mas is no longer using this style very much - he now prefers either the traditional or the new "creative" style.
http://suisekiart.com/2008/09/16/suiseki-daiza-cut-stones/

Gallery pages: 1 2 >

< 1 of 10 >

jtroth > Icefield

This stone has a strong horizontal, spreading, feeling. I like this daiza for it - it seems to hold and frame the stone without fencing it in. The legs continue the movement of the stone and carry the weight out gracefully, but without attracting too much attention.

The simplicity of the daiza harmonizes well with the simple shape of the stone, and ensures that the eye goes to the stone and not the base.

jtroth > This little stone has a lot going on - it is a strong color with lots of surface features, and even a small tamari. The stone is strongly asymmetrical, with a lot of movement.

I think the simple form of the daiza complements this stone well. Mas however says that he would now prefer the traditional style for this stone.

jtroth > In this daiza, Mas has given higher arches between the legs, making them more visible. Mas says "there is too much jumping up and down". Possibly the center leg should also be wider.

jtroth > In this daiza, the legs kick out at a fairly sharp angle. There is little or no arching between the legs.

I think this suiseki would work better with a traditional style daiza, with a more restrained treatment of the legs.

jtroth > Back veiw

You can see that this is one of the older daiza by the uniform spacing and sizing of the legs.

jtroth > Red and Black; W 5 1/2" x D 3" x H 2"; Black Butte stone

The daiza wall is almost vertical here, rather than flared out as is common in his more recent bases. Notice also the small size of the center foot compared to that in more recent work.

Mas says that if he were to make a daiza today he would have cut it much lower to give the stone more movement, and used the "creative" style daiza. What do you think?

Icefield

This stone has a strong horizontal, spreading, feeling. I like this daiza for it - it seems to hold and frame the stone without fencing it in. The legs continue the movement of the stone and carry the weight out gracefully, but without attracting too much attention.

The simplicity of the daiza harmonizes well with the simple shape of the stone, and ensures that the eye goes to the stone and not the base.