Tokoname Pot Questions

waltseed

I'm reminded of the story of an American in Paris who asked the waiter for a California wine.
When the waiter was insulted, the American said "But everyone knows that imported wines are always better."

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Waltseed

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Nomiyama

Thanks Lindsay for clearing that up. I heard a rumor once about the signature pots. Basically if the potters made 20 or so of a certain style pot of that 20 only a few were considered the best of the lot and at that point were signed. So really if you owned a signed pot it must have been the best of any given lot made at the time. However now since your response I see that there really are no guidlines stopping any potter from signing a pot if they want to.

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The Japanese aesthetic is centred on the principle of "heaven and earth in one container", as a Japanese cliché has it. Three forces come together in a good bonsai: shin-zen-bi or truth, essence and beauty.

bonsaial1

Hi Dale, if they had blue felt boxes, I do not have them. I bought the two pots just as they are. I do know that they are smooth as silk and quite shiny. It seems almost a shamed to plant anything in them. I have no idea why some of these pots are made so nice just to be filled up with dirt!

This is an exhibition Tokoname shohin pot. It has a signature but no Hanko. I have others by this potter, and from years apart and the signature always matches. This one is by Begei

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TreeBay

I have some teacups stamped MADE IN OCCUPIED JAPAN (in English) Does that count?

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farrlinzee

Treebay, they seem very collectable to me.

Cheers
Lindsay

farrlinzee

Yes it definately counts

rockm

"Made in Japan" or "Made in Occupied Japan" stamps or stickers on Japanese items can offer a way to date their manufacture and could possibly have a bearing on their value. The use of those marks indicates the item they are on is from the early to mid-20th century, as American import laws required such things.

http://www.findarticles.com/p/artic...17/ai_n16862935

http://www.gotheborg.com/marks/noritake.shtml

The inclusion of such a mark on a Japanese item can make it more valuable to collectors in some cases. For instance, on Japanese woodblock prints, the inclusion of a stamp like this on the reverse side of the print indicates it is probably pre-1950 or so and possibly more valuable than the same print without the mark. Woodblock prints are made from carved woodblocks that have been kept for a hundred years by some publishers, prints can be reproduced rather easily.

I've never seen a bonsai pot with such a stamp though...

As for "chop" marks on Japanese pots, I have some with maker's marks that are marginal in quality, but also some that are outstanding. I also have some American made pots that are the same way...

farrlinzee

On the subject of cultural revolution pots from purple sand #1 factory in Yixing.

There's a pic of some of my shohin pots at the top of the page at

http://www.bonsaifarm.tv/content/view/14/39/

The Dolly Parton pot ( I have 2) at the top left is fine quality Yixing Cultural revolution ware but I'm not certain that it is from purple sand #1.

When I gather mpre info it may be worthwhile to start a cul rev thread.

Cheers

Lindsay