snip snip snip of Bill's cogent remarks about the smell of old and new pots

> We've covered, sound, sight, and smell. Let's move on to touch next.
> Anyone want to share?

On what makes a good potfeel technically, I won't say,
but after a tea session I usually "polish" up my pot
with a soft cloth, and while I'm doing that I appreciate
the feel of the pot especially. Also, the balance of the
pot is so important, perhaps especially during the pour,
and that is a feeling thing. Like a knife, you want the
pot to lean into the pour without fighting you or
gravity in any way. This is complementary to the
visual effect of spout and handle and lid elements,
and very much related. I am bothered by a pot
that *looks* to be lighter or heavier than my hand
experiences it. That is an important kind of balance,
the balance between the weight and feel you expect
based on what you see with how it feels in the hand.

So, you first feel the pot with your eyes. I am
also bothered by the intensely granular look and
feel of some pot skins. While these granules might
contribute to the porocity of the pot and therefore
improve the tea, I think they are aesthetically
unpleasing. Form follows function, but in this
case....

A pot might feel unbalanced to the eye, even
to the point that it looks as though it might
fall over, but in fact it's quite secure because
there is an overly heavy layer of clay near the
base. This is ugly.

The most important element of all that I
can think of in this regard is the foot of the
pot. Try running your hands under the pot
without lookiing, and feel the surface lines
of the foot (bottom). What a nice experience.
When it comes to teabowls, always examine
the foot first, first with your hands, then
with your eye. You will see the foot with
your fingers. It's interesting how some pot
feet are nearly non-existent, being no more
than a round depression, while other feet
have pronounced rings, sometimes running
a little way up the side as design features.
All this is fine, but ought to complement
the rest of the pot, perhaps especially the
lid.

Enough from me. I speak solely and merely
from my own tastes, and others who find
this wacky should by all means ignore me.

Michael