Elon Musk is poised to become the first human in history to become a trillionaire, possibly in 2026! What if we had that kind of money and had the free cash to buy whatever our hearts desired. What if we wanted to spend that money on some cool pots. We'll leave the trees for another day. Here, I have provided 14 choices for pots that I would like to own. These 14 pots are by some of the best potters in the world. Some are very small and some are larger. Most of these are glazed pots due to the unglazed brown pots, while beautiful in their own way, do not exude the artistry as well as a glazed or painted pot. These pots came from a Japanese auction site and are "buy it now" pots. Pots that if you had the money, you could just go ahead and purchase the pot and have it in your hands in 10 days. I have provided pictures of the pots and a little something about the potters who made them, as well as the price to own that pot. So, with that said let's take a look at the pots and drool a little.
Tofukuji, Founder of Tofukuji Temple in the Heian period. Width 15cm, Height 3cm. Heian Tofukuji, real name Mizuno Kisaburo, was born in Kyoto in 1890. He was a great pioneer in the world of Japanese tree pots. This item was purchased in 1990 from Ota Kotoen (previous owner, Masao Ota) in Sakai City. It has never been used and has been carefully stored. It is in perfect condition and undamaged.
This is a representative work of Tofukuji Temple, made using glazes that transform the distortions and blackening that have occurred over the decades since it was made into a piece that exudes a sense of age. I also had the opportunity to meet the second-generation owner, Isamu, in the spring of 1993, and he was able to see this product.
$2650.00
Gekka (Gekkou Ito) Gosai landscape painting, mokko pot. Height:
approx. 4 cm Width: approx. 17 cm Depth: approx. 15 cm
This is a beautiful painted bowl. His real name is Ito Neishun, the fourth generation of the Tankyogama kiln. He began making blue-and-white bowls around 1969. He has received numerous awards, including the Best Artist Award at the Meishu Exhibition, the Jusekisha Award, and the Kindai Shuppansha Award, for his elegant blue-and-white, red-painted, and overglaze ware. His paintings are heavily influenced by Wakusen, and he has gradually shifted from his early, meticulous style to bolder, more compact strokes. His use of color has also changed, and his clean brushwork is characteristic of Tsukika Dokutoku. Since he mostly uses the carving method without using molds, he is inevitably a prolific artist. He is considered one of the leading contemporary small painted bowl artists in terms of both popularity and talent.
$2727.00
There are 3 potters in Japan whose work is considered the pinnacle of Japanese design and aesthetics in Bonsai pottery: Heian Tofukuji, Tsukinowa Yusen, and Heian Kouzan; also known as the “Big Three”. Born April 28, 1905, Heian Kouzan comes from a long line of Seto potters going back more than 12 generations. By 1918, at the age of 13, he was already making an income with Bonsai and pottery. By 1948, at the age of 33, he was famous. He passed away in 1990. $1000.00
Toho used bonsai pots, karaho design. Small blue and white porcelain bowls, approximately 9cm Long, Rectangular, set of 12, zodiac designs, Toho's real name: Shimada Shuji won the Gold Prize in the Glaze category at the 17th Contemporary Small Bowl Artists Exhibition, All Japan Small Bowl Bonsai Association Chairman's Award.
$3500.00
This is a Tofukuji bonsai pot 12.4cm deep, 17.4cm wide, and 4.5cm high. Apparently, this is one of the pots from Tofukuji Temple that was collected by a Kyoto enthusiast. The enthusiast purchased it from the first generation and had the second generation paint a matching cloth. Later, at the recommendation of a bonsai garden in Osaka, he prepared a special box for each of the pots he collected, and after the enthusiast passed away, the Osaka bonsai garden purchased the pot.
$3011.00
Introducing the "Kyomaru" rectangular bowl with a single
red outline" by popular potter Kyomaru, Width approx. 20.0 cm x Depth
approx. 17.2 cm x Height approx. 5.3 cm Artist name: Kyomaru (real name: Nakano
Minoru) Born in 1981, living in Kyoto City
While working at his main job, he studied pot making under Takao Koyo. He does everything himself, from shaping to painting, and because of his uncompromising attitude towards pot making, the number of pieces he has produced is extremely small. However, his spirit of inquiry into pot making is admirable, and his single-minded dedication to creating beautiful and practical pieces is reflected in his work.
$3500.00
Daisuke was born in 1919 and died in 2000. He began painting small bowls in 1949, and his works are varied, numerous, and unique. For more than a decade, the pots he painted were made by Konno Shinzan, and you’ll often see collaborative works with other members of his family: Horie Bikoh, Ichitaro, and Munakata Isso. Many of his works are unsigned, and some unstamped by the potter, so a good eye is often needed to recognize a Daisuke painting!
$6000.00
Used Bonsai Pot by Kazuhiro Watanabe. Ichikozoki style, approximately 17.5cm. Watanabe Kazuhiro is a contemporary Tokoname potter. Known in the industry as “Ikkou”. Both his glazed and unglazed pots are popular, although prices are consistent and very reasonable for the quality. Born November 13, 1956, the son of famous master potter Watanabe Masami of the Syouzan Kaneshou pottery, Ikkou was trained by his father in the art of unglazed pots which his father made exclusively. Although his family background and training are in the making of unglazed pots, his glazed pots, techniques for which he is completely self-taught, are wonderful. The pot posted is what we call “top shelf” on a box stand with a pine in it.
$600.00
Bonsai pot by Daisuke Sano, small, approximately 10cm long, glazed, round pot, used. Sano Daisuke (1919-2000) was a professional hand-painted Yuzen artist. He was a director of the Japan Small Bonsai Association. He began making bonsai pots around 1949. He is known for his bold style of painting flowers and birds, landscapes, and people, and is particularly popular in the Kanto region as Daisuke pots.
$1100.00
Used bonsai pot by Juodo, made by Shosen. Medium size, approximately 32.5cm long, rectangular, pear skin finish.
Shosen Yamaaki pottery refers to high-quality Tokoname bonsai pots produced by the Japanese Yamaaki kiln, founded by the esteemed potter Akiji Kataoka (Shosen) in 1920. These pots are highly sought after by bonsai enthusiasts and collectors. The kiln was established by Akiji Kataoka, who used the professional potter's name "Shosen" (松泉) and was also known as "Juuodo". He passed away in 1990.
$600.00
Sanshu Ichiyo bonsai pot. Medium size, long side approx.
21cm. Sanshu Ichiyo was born In Aichi prefecture in 1902 and passed away in
1985. His family ran a wholesale China store, and he later ran a similar
operation in Tokyo. Selling pottery, he had a unique opportunity to study
different styles and types popular around Japan at the time and eventually
began making his own. He is thoroughly self-educated.
Along with notable potters like Tofukuji and Uematsu Tosui (another renowned pottery wholesaler come pottery designer), it is believed that Ichiyo, along with close friend Ichikawa Taishu, were pivotal in ushering in the age of respect for Japanese ceramicists in the 20th century. His admirers are legion, and his apprentices include such notable notables as Ito Gekkou, Ito Tonyo, Shiko, Tankyou, and Sugiura Keisen. $800.00
Bonsai pot, Tonyo Takahama kiln, small, approximately 14.5cm
long, rectangular pot with corners and a floating pattern, celadon, glazed,
with original box and original fabric, perfect for viewing. Brand new.
Ito Tonyo is a respected contemporary Japanese ceramic artist known for producing high-quality, often small-scale (shohin/mame) bonsai pots. Often featuring fine glazes and precise, clean-lined construction, Tonyo's work includes painted, glazed, and unglazed pieces, frequently, and sometimes, he worked in conjunction with his renowned brother, Ito Gekkou.
$1000.00
