farrlinzee

Mortalis, I'd only buy a handbag without the Gucci tag if it went with my shoes.

Joanie, I think it comes down to commercial realities. These are small family businesses tryng to get by in a cold and heartless corporate world. I understand that they do get some government assistance. When i was there last year Aiba's son was making tableware cause the bonsai pot market was so weak.

Putting food on the table is as important to these master potters as it is to you and I.

If they make a pot, stamp and sign it then it warps slightly in the kiln so that it won't sit perfectly. What do you think they will do. Throw it on the trash heap or send it to the Americans or Russians or Aussies?

And don't forget what Lao Tzu said

" we make a pot from a lump of clay
but it's the empty space inside that makes it useful"

It's worth noting that the pendulum has swung with ancient pot collection.

The exceedingly wealthy Chinese collectors are buying back at extrordinary prices pots that Japanese collectors acquired in the eighties.

It has also been reported that the pots made at Purple sand #1 factory in Yixing China during the cultural revolution are amongst the most valued by collectors today and they have a stamp that translates to "made in China"

Gotta go now. I need to get one of those handbags that paris Hilton has.

Cheers
Lindsay