Purchasing Finished Bonsai

RonMartin(deceased)

Silly me again !
Lots of words here even for me. Hope no one falls asleep before they are done reading this.
There is always a lot of talk about a "finished bonsai" but not a lot of information on just what constitutes one. Maybe that is one of those items for which there is no real definition for.
Could be that it is like trying to define the word TIME and not using the word time in that definition. Not an easy thing to do.
I looked up the word time in the good old Merriam-Webster dictionary. Even they had a bit of a hard time with the definition of the word time As far as I can tell it is just about the longest definition in that dictionary.
"Main Entry: 1time
Pronunciation: 'tIm
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English tIma; akin to Old Norse tImi time, Old English tId -- more at TIDE
1 a : the measured or measurable period during which an action, process, or condition exists or continues : DURATION b : a nonspatial continuum that is measured in terms of events which succeed one another from past through present to future c : LEISURE <time for reading>
2 : the point or period when something occurs : OCCASION
3 a : an appointed, fixed, or customary moment or hour for something to happen, begin, or end <arrived ahead of time> b : an opportune or suitable moment <decided it was time to retire> -- often used in the phrase about time <about time for a change>
4 a : an historical period : AGE b : a division of geologic chronology c : conditions at present or at some specified period -- usually used in plural <times are hard> <move with the times> d : the present time <issues of the time>
5 a : LIFETIME b : a period of apprenticeship c : a term of military service d : a prison sentence
6 : SEASON <very hot for this time of year>
7 a : rate of speed : TEMPO b : the grouping of the beats of music : RHYTHM
8 a : a moment, hour, day, or year as indicated by a clock or calendar <what time is it> b : any of various systems (as sidereal or solar) of reckoning time
9 a : one of a series of recurring instances or repeated actions <you've been told many times> b plural (1) : added or accumulated quantities or instances <five times greater> (2) : equal fractional parts of which an indicated number equal a comparatively greater quantity <seven times smaller> <three times closer> c : TURN <three times at bat>
10 : finite as contrasted with infinite duration
11 : a person's experience during a specified period or on a particular occasion <a good time> <a hard time>
12 a : the hours or days required to be occupied by one's work <make up time> <on company time> b : an hourly pay rate <straight time> c : wages paid at discharge or resignation <pick up your time and get out>
13 a : the playing time of a game b : TIME-OUT
14 : a period during which something is used or available for use <computer time>
- at the same time : NEVERTHELESS, YET <slick and at the same time strangely unprofessional -- Gerald Weaks>
- at times : at intervals : OCCASIONALLY
- for the time being : for the present
- from time to time : once in a while : OCCASIONALLY
- in no time : very quickly or soon
- in time 1 : sufficiently early 2 : EVENTUALLY 3 : in correct tempo <learn to play in time>
- on time 1 a : at the appointed time b : on schedule 2 : on the installment plan
- time and again : FREQUENTLY, REPEATEDLY "
All total that is 525 words. Could it be that the dreaded "finished bonsai" is as hard a thing to define.
Being brave I thought I would try. May not be the smart thing for me to do but then no one has ever accused me of being smart.
First let me say that " A finished tree is a dead tree" is a statement that is kind of full of POO-POO. It just doesn't make any sense. To me at least.
I would bet that most would agree that John Naka's Goshin forest is a finished item. Last time I checked it wasn't dead. Just finished to the best abilities of the artist.
Could it be that a finished bonsai is one that shows the emotion that the artists wanted to evoke.
A bonsai that has had its style set, branches,trunk and nabari defined . Especially once these items are more or less set in stone. There does come a time when these things can no longer be reasonably changed. Not without restyling the tree anyway. Restyling naturally means it is no longer a finished item.
So based on all this I would say that a finished bonsai is one that has been styled to the best ability of the artist. One that has been set in its style and further changes to it would be a bit hard or almost impossible to do without a complete restyle.
Whether or not it is a good finished bonsai is up to the viewing artist.
Gosh that is more words than I have ever written on a subject here. But now I can say that I am positively Finished
Any other ideas out there ?