Bigei, Tokoname, 9.5 x 9.5 x 3.8cm round, unglazed, carved.
Product Details: Not For Sale!
Region: Tokoname 常滑市
Kiln: Bigei Kiln (美芸窯)
Potter: BIGEI 美芸 (Hirata Atsumi 平田あつみ)
A highly refined, small round bonsai pot (丸鉢 marubachi) by master potter Bigei (美芸). This piece exemplifies Bigei’s late-period decorative style, featuring a precisely hand-carved surface with vertical fluting and fine crosshatching (彫文様 chō mon'yō) around the body.
The darkened surface, possibly a reduction-fired shudei (朱泥) red clay, takes on a rich umber-black tone (焦げ shudei) that subtly shifts with light. The carved pattern provides depth and visual texture without overwhelming the pot’s soft, compressed form — a superb example of 調和 chōwa (harmony) between decoration and restraint.
The pot is compact with a slightly compressed profile and elegant taper from rim to base. It rests on two low, stepped cut feet (段切り足 dan-kiri ashi), providing both aesthetic lift and excellent stability. The piece blends traditional Tokoname craftsmanship with a refined, modern feel.
This pot is ideal for shohin bonsai (小品盆栽), especially accent trees or kusamono (草物), where the pot should quietly support and elevate the planting.
External Dimensions: 9.5 x 3.8cm
Condition: Excellent vintage condition. Lightly used with a soft natural patina (古艶 kotsuya) forming on the surface. No chips, cracks, or restoration. Minor water or mineral traces may be visible, consistent with age and use.
Signed on the base with the hand-carved mark 美芸 (Bigei), confirming its origin from Tokoname master potter Hirata Atsumi.
About Bigei (Hirata Atsumi, 美芸 / 平田あつみ)
Bigei, real name Hirata Atsumi, is one of Tokoname’s most respected bonsai potters. Known for his distinctive vermilion (shudei 朱泥) and elegant glazed pieces, he is especially revered in the shohin bonsai world for his craftsmanship and quiet artistic vision.
Born in 1939, Bigei began his ceramic career in 1958. He moved to Tokoname in 1969 with no family background in pottery — his father was a carpenter — and began a tough apprenticeship at a large kiln, working for four years for only food and shelter. Despite the hardships and being an outsider, Bigei persevered, eventually establishing his own studio in 1976. He is the only well-known Tokoname potter to have built his reputation entirely through independent effort, rising from nothing — 徒手空拳 toshukūken (with bare hands).
As of the last known update in 2017, Bigei had reduced production, making pots only for himself or close friends.
Additional Notes on Bigei’s Work:
Style & Materials:
Bigei is most known for his shaded vermilion (shudei) unglazed pieces, often finished with burnishing (磨き migaki). He also creates glazed works with deep character, often decorated with nail carving (釘彫り kugibori), brush sketches, and reliefs.
Sansui Pots (山水鉢):
Under the name Sansui (山水), Bigei produces painted pots with traditional Chinese-style mountain and water landscapes (山水画 sansuiga), often in ink or enamel glazes.
Shohin Specialization (小品盆栽鉢):
Bigei’s work in the shohin scale is particularly admired. His attention to proportion and surface finish makes his small pots prized for high-level bonsai display.
Reference: Holvila Bonsai Pot Interview with Bigei (2017)
An excellent interview that captures his story, artistic integrity, and the challenges he overcame during the “golden days” of Tokoname bonsai pottery.
