Tokaname Pots

I.B.

Tokoname is the name of a city in Japan which is very famous for producing ceramics. In fact, Tokoname is more famous for producing toilets rather than bonsai containers.

ANY container made in the city of Tokoname can be called "Tokoname-ware". They have innexpensive and poor quality bonsai containers as well as fine quality containers too. However, most are of a higher quality than poor.

So, just saying one has a "Tokoname Pot" does not mean too much to me, other than it might be a good container which was made in Tokoname.

Bill

__________________
William N. Valavanis

Advertisement

rockm

Just asking if anyone has this particular pot--from Tokoname. It's not a bad example of tokoname ware, and not a top of the line example either. It is a mid-priced unsigned and unstamped piece that I got from someone who has imported from the source. Just wondering if anyone had the same "fading glaze" experience...is all. I am wondering in particular if the fading glaze is intentional. The glaze was thin on the edges when I got the pot--imparting a "worn" appearance.

Since pots tend to acquire a patina with use, I was wondering if particular glazes have "built in" patina. I know the acidiity of the pine mulch probably accelrated off the fading, was the pot going to do that anyway--by design?

Joanie

Some element in the glaze must have been unstable.

Raku firing can create the unstable glaze effects, which are due to the glaze color forming in an oxygen-deprived environment. Over time, the components of the glaze that were created from the lack of oxygen begin to pull oxygen out of the air, and change their color. So those beautiful coppery, irridescent "oil slick" colors on some raku ware turn to rather plain colors. There's one on my refrigerator right now. It was glorious, two years ago.

Anyway, your pot isn't raku, but the example shows that color within a glaze CAN change due to outside factors. The acidity of the mulch probably had a lot to do with it. It would be interesting to find out what happens if it is re-fired to its original temperature.

Joanie

__________________

Dale Cochoy

Hey Al, I can do that for you!
Heck, ALL my pots are "Signature pots"
Regards,

Dale "Pot bottom marker-upper" Cochoy

P.S. Did ya' ever wonder if.....

Excellent Potters in other areas of Japan who export pots SAY their pots are from Tokoname so that Americans will buy them?
or
maybe even some made in China?
I wonder, I wonder??

__________________
________________________________
If you want to be Different....
You have to DO something Different!
__________________________________________

Some people NEVER take the time to do a job right the first time....
but, they always seem to make the time to do it over again...
____________________________________________
Dale Cochoy
Wild Things Bonsai Studio
Yakimono no Kokoro Bonsai Pottery
Hartville, Ohio

hansvanmeer

I don't think this is supposed to happen. I for one never heard off it. I find tokoname pots to be very good. As a Mather off fact I just ordered one yesterday directly from that same link as above. I have been looking for a nice shohin pot for over a year now, and good not find one. So I ordered one from them and for a very reasonable price as well. Shohin pots are so hard to find were I live!
Hans.

BunjinEnt

While reading this very informative thread it struck home that both the art of Bonsai and Bonsai Pot making in America (and the world) has become or is becoming analogous to the wine industry in California (and Australia) relative to the old vinyards in Europe.
If Japan and China are the standards, then in many ways there are artisans worldwide who have come into their own to meet and often exceed these standards, or have attained such a recognition as to be able, in the eye of the critique, to re-define the standards.
And because of this trend, as far as I can tell in my humble (and newbie) opinion, the vision of John Naka has become (or is becoming) realized.

I find that very cool.

(this is probably not original thought in this community, but it was my epiphany)

William

Bruce Winter

I have that pot and haven't had that problem with it. Maybe because it's been sitting on the shelf all this time.

I'll put it outside and see what this acid rain does to it.