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Today marks our 100th post since we began in August of 2009. So it is only fitting to post about two pots that we added this summer to our collection of Tofukuji pots.
Heian Tofukuji (平安東福寺)
The first thing that struck us about this pot is the color. This beautiful red was used sparingly by Tofukuji and the first time we have seen one for sale. Akio was kind enough to bring it, with a few others, this last summer. We were immediately struck by this pot and acquired it from him. You know that feeling when you see a pot, pick it up and just know that you are not going to set it down again.
Several things to note about this pot: 1) today most small pots like this, or virtually all round pots, have a nice smooth top; Click the photo to see a larger image. Also notice the side of the pots are not uniformed as they would be if thrown on a wheel. This pot seems to have been formed by hand and therefore the “just off” feel that communicates to the eye that this pot has been created very carefully by hand.
Also notice the glaze (easier to see in the enlarged photo) and note the brushstrokes down the sides of the pot. Today new pots seem to mostly have a glaze that is consistently placed on the pot and thereby removing the organic feel that this pot contains.
Heian Tofukuji (平安東福寺) with Mulberry Stand
With this dark red pot, read heavy, attempting to find a stand that works is extremely difficult. The mulberry stand being used it both light and airy. Is it the perfect stand for this pot? No frankly it is not. We attempted to use six other stands for this pot with simply unsatisfactory results.
We are going to see if we can find a very low profile stand for this Tofukuji to better harmonize with this most difficult pot to display. We attempted using a root stand (10cm) and the pot just overwhelmed the stand. It actually looked better on a 25cm root stand believe it or not. In an upcoming post, we will show you the various combinations and let you vote on what you think works – or not.
Heian Tofukuji (平安東福寺)
This is the second Tofukuji pot we acquired this summer. It is being displayed on a Rikizo stand. This is a more typical glaze by Tofukuji and is seen on a great number of his pots. This pot has a more classical form and has many uses.
Would we use this pot in an exhibit – likely if we had the right tree. However, we don’t so this pot is being displayed in one of our display cabinets at home.
One of the reasons we really enjoy suiseki and pot collecting is that we can display them in our home. Thus enjoying them every time we walk past them which is dozens of times per day.
We hope you enjoy seeing Tofukuji’s work as he was a master in glaze, texture and form. In the next few days, we will post on two more pots we acquired from Akio and a beautiful boxwood root stand acquired from our good friend Peter Tea.
Lastly, we want to thank you our readers for the kind comments you have shared with us over these last 100 posts. In the beginning thanks to Janet for suggesting WordPress to communicate our love for suiseki, bonsai and pots. To Jeff, Jonas and Peter for their encouragement via their kind words that they were enjoying our posts. To Mas whose love for suiseki has inspired us to fall in love with it as well. To Boon whose love of bonsai and talent in creating them gave us the courage to join his club to attempt to participate and thrive in a most difficult art form.
Lastly, and most importantly, to KJ who allows me to sometimes (read often) spend more of our income on this art form that we likely should.
Sam & KJ's Suiseki Blog (水石) 
Sam,
Great post, as always! I truly enjoy reading and learn from your posts, please keep them coming so all of us can learn and appreciate from your fine taste and deep knowledge of suiseki, containers and tables.
Bill
Sam & KJ,
I have recently started reading your interesting and inspiring blog. The information and photos you have posted, are the catalyst for my journey acquiring bonsai pots and related items. Thank you for efforts! I look forward to future posts and taking time over the holidays exploring past ones.
Sincerely,
Andrew
Congratulations Sam & KJ!
First for creating a unique, thoughtful and educational blog and of course the passion and dedication to reach 100 posts of substance and style.
The Arts of Bonsai and Suiseki are elevated by an appreciation for detail and nuance.
That fact is lost on many people but you have recognized and embraced this aspect.
To that point, displaying your treasured pots and stands in your home allows you to repeatedly study these forms and continue to develop an appreciation that would be hard to duplicate.
I appreciate the your blog and look forward to reading the next 100!
Marc
Dear Sam&KJ
A few weeks ago I started to watch your blog. It’s amazing to find people being interested in nearly the same things like small suiseki, stands and small bonsai pots especially from the Tofukujis. I thought until then that we, my wife and I, were the only people in the world (outside Japan and maybe Peter Krebs and Willy Benz) with such “cranky” special interests. Thank you so much also for posting the blog of Jerry Braswell and other helpfull informations …. That’ just what I searched for so many years far away in Germany.
But today I have a special question: Do you have informations about the life of the Tofukujis (birth, death a.s.o)? I know that Sr. is born in 1890. When did he pass away? And exspecially the Jr.? Would you post such infos if you have?
Thanks a lot and maybe we meet some time…
Best regards
Rolf Becker from Germany
Hi Rolf,
I’m glad you found your site. We, like you and your wife, also found it very difficult to find others who loved the same sort of things we did and it was the foundation of why we created this blog. There isn’t a lot of information on either of them in English but I will do some digging to see if we can determine more on them both. Do you have the book on their pots? It is great book to own. If not, let me know and I will forward you several locations where you can purchase it.
Best regards,
Sam and KJ
Hey Sam and Rolf,
Heian Tofukuji was born April 25, 1890. He was a comb craftsmen, until, fairly late in life, after losing his job, he began making bonsai pots professionally, bonsai was a hobby for him up to this point. As best as I can tell, he died in 1970, though this an inference, as his son inherited the title at the age of 53, and was born in 1917. Tofukuji Jr. Was in the Transportation industry until inheriting the name, when he began a decade long exploration of his fathers work, methods, and glazes. Towards the end of this decade, he began developing his own style, but died 4 years later. So, as best as I can infer, that would be 1984.
Hope this helps Rolf!
Ryan
Ryan,
Thank you so much for the additional information. I had read something in Japan about his death in 1970 but didn’t know his son had died as well and more than 25 years ago. It would be fun to do more research on these, and other, potters so that we had more details on them.
Best wishes,
Sam and KJ
Thank you very much again Ryan. In the moment I know no one who has more information about japanese pots and potters in the west.
Sam and KJ, thank you very much. I found your link to Yoshoen and ordered the book just a few days ago.
Best regards
Rolf
I agree Sam, that’s the whole reason I started the blog. To disseminate accurate information about Japanese and Chinese Bonsai pots and potters. The research is quite fun!
Ryan