Subtle beauty, fine art with bright flowers. What could you ever plant in this pot? 4 inches (10cm) across the top. From our Japanese mystery book.
Staying on our pot theme while taking the easy way out. It’s the Holidays and I’m traveling again, so we’re going to indulge ourselves by resurrecting another post from archives (with the photos enlarged and rearranged). This one is from way back in 2010. It was titled Ornate Elegance: Bonsai Pots As Fine Art.
These pots are clearly from an another time and place when compared to the pots in the last post. So much so that these seem more like museum pieces than bonsai pots (which they probably are). Still…
BTW: you might notice the first sentence below (We don’t get much…..). Based on the comments in our last post, things may have changed.
Pot lovers?
We don’t get much response when we post pots. I guess powerful old bonsai or flashy flowering trees excite people more. Still, pots are the other half of bonsai, and the best pots rise to the level of fine art.
Where are the trees?
Maybe the reason people don’t show much interest in these fine art type pots is that they are almost always empty. Sometimes you see these kinds of pots with companion plants, but almost never with a bonsai tree gracing their beauty.
Subtle beauty, fine art. This one is also from our Japanese mystery book. The uneven top adds a touch of wabi sabi. It’s 13.5cm (5.3 inches) across the opening.
Hirato-Yaki peacock pot. This pot may be from as far back as 1598. 22 inches (59cm) across the top. That’s a very large pot.
We featured this one back in May, but just in case you missed it….
Yes, pots are the other half of bonsai and you don’t get much response when posting pots.
I fully agree with both of your comments. Most people in the US know little about pots because there is simply not much information available. Additionally, most hobbyists are not exposed to quality pots, thus a lack of interest and knowledge.
I travel frequently in Japan and collect more modern, full size Japanese pots. Finding and collecting pots is as interesting and enjoyable as bonsai trees.
I never post comments on this site although I enjoy looking at it very much. I love the pot posts. I love the old Japanese pots. Today you just don’t see pots like these except in books. The pot quality is not like it was twenty years ago. Like everything else in out world, fast cheap production has a cost..
This is my first comment on any web site period, but I had to comment. I have recently developed a great interest in the old fine art pots and vintage bonsai pots. The problem for me seems to be availability, price, and trust. I would very much like to start a collection but can not afford the prices I see. I don’t know if I can trust sellers. I don’t know how to verify that the pot is genuine. It is also hard to determine if an affordable pot is made by a well regarded maker. As previously commented the lack of info is a hurdle. I so far have just collected ones I like and can afford but It would be nice to find a rare vintage one at a fair price. –
I really appreciate your site-Marty