If you are not following the pot market in Japan, you are unlikely to know that prices for antique Chinese bonsai pots are skyrocketing. Just a few months ago a 100 year old, or so, antique Chinese pot was purchased for over $750,000 U.S. Now this is a very special pot and the focus of an upcoming post and it requires just the right buyer, but for the rest of us who hope to own an old Chinese antique pot – what can we expect?
A great number of antique pots (100-1,000 years) made their way into Japan in the last century and it appears that there is a rush to return them to China which is causing prices to skyrocket. Think I’m kidding, just watch prices at next year’s Kokufu Green Club and you will see what I mean. Whereas we were purchasing good quality pots for $1,000 to $1,500 per pot – those same pots are not selling for $3,000 and up. For very old pots these prices are easily moving to $4,000 and up.
Unfortunately for many of us as these pots disappear it is unlikely we will ever see them again so unless you have a great book on pots I personally believe many of these will never be seen again. Kinbon published an absolutely terrific pot book about 15 years ago – we will post on it in the future – but this book retailed for ~80,000 Yen which today is ~%1,000. It was issued in two volumes. The first contained a great collection of Japanese pots and the second a tremendous collection of Chinese pots. Well we digress. Let’s take a look at several pots today. Two are Chinese and the other I’m not sure of it origin.
Antique Chinese
An excellent design with a fine patina. The owner applied a bit too much oil on the pot for our liking, but this is a classic style with lots of uses. This pot is over 40 years old but we are not sure how much older than that. The patina would tell us it is unlikely that its age is over 100 years old. We believe this pot originated from Changchun, China.
Antique Chinese
We have seen more patina on old pots of this sort, but you can see the water marks near the drainage holes so we know the pot has been used.
Antique Chinese
There is a story on the front of this pot but unfortunately I can’t interpret it. Perhaps one of these days our iPhone can take a snapshot and perform a translation for us.
Very nice patina with an almost identical clay. We really value this type of clay. It is warm and very pleasing to the eye and seems to build a beautiful patina over the years.
Origin Unknown
With the way the antlers are drawn I would say this is a Chinese pot but I’m uncertain. We will try to research this a bit more to see if we can determine its origin.
A beautifully painted scene of what I assume to be reindeers (at least in the US that is what we would call them)
Origin Unknown
The feet are pretty heavy for this pot and with the additional red glaze it makes them even heavier. What do you think about them?
Origin Unknown
Origin Unknown
Perhaps someone can interpret the artist mark and provide us with the origin of the pot and perhaps the potter.
Hi there,
I’ve been reading your blog for a few days (finished it yesterday, now I’m up to date), that I discovered through Peter tea’s blog. It really rose my awareness of the larger culture around bonsai, other than the trees. Thanks for your time in writing these very interesting articles.
Do you know anyone who keeps a blog with articles on kusamono/shitakusa, who takes interest in the art of matching them to bonsai ?
Sam, the old painted pot is tremendous (as are the others). I wonder if it might not be Japanese, only because the Deer look very much like the Deer you see at the Nara Temple. Spotted, with Antlers, is really unique. ANyway, thanks for the great posts. John
John,
I think you may be correct. I’m hoping someone will look at the mark to let us know. Hopefully there will be a iPhone app that allows that soon. I understand there is one for Chinese that works pretty well but the Japanese one not so.
Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours,
Sam
hi.MR Sam
all you stuff are beautiful.very beautuful….i hope i could have one ….this is real culture,,,,east culture,
best
danny
Hello ! Mr.Sam,
The old painted pot with DEERS was Genuine Japanese Pot.
definitely not Chinese Pot…
The word behind means Tosui Made and beside that, maybe means Chazan & stamp.
Best Regards,
Kenny Tay