Pot makers in AUS?

farrlinzee

Melbourne has had a few bonsai pot makers over the past 5 decades. Ellis ceramics in Nicholson st Abbotsford made pots at the request of melbourne bonsai patriach Max leversha during the sixties and seventies into the early eighties. These were slip cast pots fired to 1180 and do not stand the rigours of time very well. They are still obtainabe from old collections and at markets. Quite collectable.

During the late eighties a potter who's name I can't recall made some beautiful hand made (pure clay) pots. His pots have performed wonderfully but sadly he has departed.

Glen Robbins ( no relation to the comic) is a skilled Australian Native bonsai grower and fine potter who made some lovely pots not so long ago. Glen was living in the Yarra Valley last I heard but I havn't seen him for some time.

Of course during the late eigties when the value of the Yen went through the roof and China was still culturally remote, many people improvised to make bonsai pots. These can be procured from Sunday markets from time to time but their appeal lies in the effort rather than the quality.

Another potter made some lovely pots which I obtained when I purchased selections from the late Max Leversha's shed. I'll take a pic and post a pic of the Wanko er... I mean Hanko to see if anyone can identify.

The sad truth though is that there are plenty of BIG Talkers when it comes to Aussie pots and few Walkers prepared to pay a reasonable price for the ware.

Decades of experience have convinced me that most queries for hand made Aussie pots come from uninspired growers seeking to distinguish their scared creations with a pot of distinction. Of course this never works.
I hope that will change in the future and Aussie bonsai people follow the lead of the Americans and Europeans but I'm not going to hold my breath waiting.

More power to the potters.

Cheers
Lindsay