Large California Juniper Repotted

mike_p

OK Dale, if you insist
The dimensions are 22 3/4" x 18 3/4' x 6 3/4". It was made to the dimensions I specified and the design is a near copy of a smaller Tokoname pot that I have. As my smaller one was the largest in the set, but too small for what I wanted, I asked Seiji Shiba of Shibui Bonsai If he could get one for me. He said that the only way was a special order to have it made, and the price would be between $800 and $900. I really like the design, so I choked and said OK. This was several years ago, and a large black pine was what I wanted it for. It's been empty for about 3 years and I was saving it for the California juniper.
I think the price was more than double that of the smaller pot that's a catalog item. And since it was custom made, there's a signature on the bottom.
Did I pay too much or not, and who cares? I like it and it works well for the California.

Mike

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Dale Cochoy

Interesting story Mike. That is a pretty big pot and since it was not a catalog item but a special order I'd say you were lucky. Those signed Japanese pots are surely an investment. A few years back a fellow that had an old bonsai business offered to sell me a couple tokoname pots for what he had in them MANY years earlier. They were both about 29ish inches or a few inches bigger and 8"ish deep. I GRABBED them up for $400 for the both. I scratch traced the stamps and sent to Jim Barrett. He researched and wrote me back telling what they were worth, when made, where exactly . Well, my chin dropped. I decided I didn't have anything I'd dare put in them ( and tell my wife) so figured I better sell them. After a year of taking to shows I was so afraid I'd chip them transporting and moving them.

I began to think that if I still had them when I died my wife could flip one over top the other and they'd maka a good casket for me!

Finally I sold one at about half it's value ( still made a REALLY good profit) but didn't look forward to carrying the other to shows all over so I finally traded it for a fabulous Ponderosa pine I still have and never move. It sits next to my pond in the biggest MICA rectangle I learned a couple big lessons with those. There is a SMALLLLLL market for huge tokoname pots. Even smaller when you are afraid to transport them! Even smaller when signed/stamped and traceable.

since that time I've become amazed at the size of the chinese pots ( up to 4-5 feet) that sell for practically nothing wholesale ( not including shipping, but still cheap with that included) and are MUCH better quality than only a few years ago.
Dale

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Dale Cochoy
Wild Things Bonsai Studio
Yakimono no Kokoro Bonsai Pottery
Hartville, Ohio

Karl Thier

Hi Mike, you have a very good California juniper, I have permitted me to organize the leaves Virtual.

Attached Images

Harry_talk_v_junip.jpg (59.4 KB, 17 views)

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mike_p

Very good job, Karl

Mike

__________________
Nature is perfect.
Man's attempts to improve nature,
Are imperfect.
MP@BBB Studio

There is no way to happiness. Happiness is the way
Gautama Buddha