{"product_id":"bigei-美芸-hirata-atsumi-平田あつみ-常滑-18-5cm","title":"BIGEI 美芸 (Hirata Atsumi 平田あつみ) – 常滑 – 18.6cm Round Stringed Iron Two-Tiered Bottom","description":"\u003cp data-start=\"404\" data-end=\"496\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"404\" data-end=\"424\"\u003eProduct Details:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr data-start=\"424\" data-end=\"427\"\u003eRegion: Tokoname 常滑市\u003cbr data-start=\"447\" data-end=\"450\"\u003eKiln: Bigei 美芸\u003cbr data-start=\"464\" data-end=\"467\"\u003ePotter: Hirata Atsumi 平田あつみ\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"498\" data-end=\"799\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"498\" data-end=\"514\"\u003eDescription:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr data-start=\"514\" data-end=\"517\"\u003eA vintage artisan-made Japanese bonsai pot from Tokoname, produced at the Bigei kiln by Hirata Atsumi. This round vessel (丸鉢) is unglazed (無釉) and formed from refined, iron-rich Tokoname clay, now displaying a well-developed natural patina (経年変化) that enhances its warmth and depth.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"801\" data-end=\"1295\"\u003eThe form is calm and composed, with softly rounded walls and a notably smooth surface finish that contrasts beautifully with the pot’s architectural structure. A clearly articulated basal band (下帯) encircles the lower body, providing visual grounding and reinforcing the pot’s sense of stability and proportion. The absence of surface texture allows the subtle colour variation and sheen of the clay to take prominence, highlighting the material’s natural 土味 in a restrained and elegant manner.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1297\" data-end=\"1693\"\u003eThe rim (口縁) is gently rounded and well resolved, contributing to a balanced and harmonious silhouette. The pot is supported by three sculptural feet (足付), finely modeled with scroll-like detailing and cleanly integrated into the base. These feet lift the pot just enough to provide lightness while maintaining a strong, grounded presence, making the overall form feel both refined and confident.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1695\" data-end=\"1945\"\u003eThe interior is smoothly finished, showing careful workmanship and attention to detail. A central drainage hole is accompanied by three auxiliary wiring holes (水抜き穴・針金穴), ensuring excellent drainage and practical functionality for bonsai cultivation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1947\" data-end=\"2133\"\u003eThis pot is particularly well suited to refined shohin bonsai, especially where a quiet, mature container is desired to complement aged bark, subtle movement, or understated tree design.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"2135\" data-end=\"2216\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"2135\" data-end=\"2159\"\u003eExternal dimensions:\u003c\/strong\u003e 18.6 × 5.5 cm\u003cbr data-start=\"2173\" data-end=\"2176\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"2176\" data-end=\"2200\"\u003eInternal dimensions:\u003c\/strong\u003e 16.0 × 4.0 cm\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"2218\" data-end=\"2244\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"2218\" data-end=\"2232\"\u003eCondition:\u003c\/strong\u003e Excellent\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Bahnschrift',sans-serif;\"\u003eFree shipping to mainland UK on this pot.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Bahnschrift',sans-serif;\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Bahnschrift',sans-serif;\"\u003eAbout Bigei (Hirata Atsumi, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"font-family: 'MS Gothic'; mso-ascii-font-family: Bahnschrift; mso-hansi-font-family: Bahnschrift; mso-bidi-font-family: 'MS Gothic';\"\u003e美芸\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Bahnschrift',sans-serif;\"\u003e \/ \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"font-family: 'MS Gothic'; mso-ascii-font-family: Bahnschrift; mso-hansi-font-family: Bahnschrift; mso-bidi-font-family: 'MS Gothic';\"\u003e平田あつみ\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Bahnschrift',sans-serif;\"\u003e)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Bahnschrift',sans-serif;\"\u003eBigei, real name Hirata Atsumi, is one of Tokoname’s most respected bonsai potters. Renowned for his distinctive vermilion (\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"font-family: 'MS Gothic'; mso-ascii-font-family: Bahnschrift; mso-hansi-font-family: Bahnschrift; mso-bidi-font-family: 'MS Gothic';\"\u003e朱泥\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Bahnschrift',sans-serif;\"\u003e shudei) and purple clay (\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"font-family: 'MS Gothic'; mso-ascii-font-family: Bahnschrift; mso-hansi-font-family: Bahnschrift; mso-bidi-font-family: 'MS Gothic';\"\u003e紫泥\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Bahnschrift',sans-serif;\"\u003e shidei) unglazed pieces, he is particularly admired in the shohin bonsai world for his precision, balance, and deeply personal style.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Bahnschrift',sans-serif;\"\u003eBorn in 1939, Bigei began working in ceramics in 1958. He moved to Tokoname in 1969, entering pottery without any family lineage — his father was a carpenter. He endured a demanding four-year apprenticeship, surviving only on food and shelter, before establishing his own independent kiln in 1976.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Bahnschrift',sans-serif;\"\u003eHis rise to prominence is legendary: he is the only well-known Tokoname potter who built his reputation entirely from scratch — \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"font-family: 'MS Gothic'; mso-ascii-font-family: Bahnschrift; mso-hansi-font-family: Bahnschrift; mso-bidi-font-family: 'MS Gothic';\"\u003e徒手空拳\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Bahnschrift',sans-serif;\"\u003e toshukūken (“with bare hands”).\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Bahnschrift',sans-serif;\"\u003eAfter 2017, he gradually produced fewer works, creating only for himself or close acquaintances.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Bahnschrift',sans-serif;\"\u003eAdditional Notes on Bigei’s Work\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Bahnschrift',sans-serif;\"\u003eStyle \u0026amp; Materials:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Bahnschrift',sans-serif;\"\u003eSpecializes in shudei and shidei clays with burnishing (\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"font-family: 'MS Gothic'; mso-ascii-font-family: Bahnschrift; mso-hansi-font-family: Bahnschrift; mso-bidi-font-family: 'MS Gothic';\"\u003e磨き\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Bahnschrift',sans-serif;\"\u003e migaki), incised decoration (\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"font-family: 'MS Gothic'; mso-ascii-font-family: Bahnschrift; mso-hansi-font-family: Bahnschrift; mso-bidi-font-family: 'MS Gothic';\"\u003e釘彫り\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Bahnschrift',sans-serif;\"\u003e kugibori), and classical reliefs.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Bahnschrift',sans-serif;\"\u003eSansui Pots (\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"font-family: 'MS Gothic'; mso-ascii-font-family: Bahnschrift; mso-hansi-font-family: Bahnschrift; mso-bidi-font-family: 'MS Gothic';\"\u003e山水鉢\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Bahnschrift',sans-serif;\"\u003e):\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Bahnschrift',sans-serif;\"\u003eUnder Sansui (\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"font-family: 'MS Gothic'; mso-ascii-font-family: Bahnschrift; mso-hansi-font-family: Bahnschrift; mso-bidi-font-family: 'MS Gothic';\"\u003e山水\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Bahnschrift',sans-serif;\"\u003e), he paints traditional Chinese-inspired landscape designs (\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"font-family: 'MS Gothic'; mso-ascii-font-family: Bahnschrift; mso-hansi-font-family: Bahnschrift; mso-bidi-font-family: 'MS Gothic';\"\u003e山水画\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Bahnschrift',sans-serif;\"\u003e sansuiga).\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Bahnschrift',sans-serif;\"\u003eShohin Focus:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Bahnschrift',sans-serif;\"\u003eRevered for masterful small-format work (\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"font-family: 'MS Gothic'; mso-ascii-font-family: Bahnschrift; mso-hansi-font-family: Bahnschrift; mso-bidi-font-family: 'MS Gothic';\"\u003e小品鉢\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Bahnschrift',sans-serif;\"\u003e shohin-bachi), prized by collectors.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Bahnschrift',sans-serif;\"\u003eReference:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Bahnschrift',sans-serif;\"\u003eHolvila Bonsai Pot Interview with Bigei (2017) — an important record of his life and philosophy.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Bahnschrift',sans-serif;\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Sugi Bonsai","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56011310137675,"sku":"@pS85 g1188182499   67","price":120.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0945\/4259\/4379\/files\/IMG_7260.jpg?v=1764522653","url":"https:\/\/sugibonsai.com\/products\/bigei-%e7%be%8e%e8%8a%b8-hirata-atsumi-%e5%b9%b3%e7%94%b0%e3%81%82%e3%81%a4%e3%81%bf-%e5%b8%b8%e6%bb%91-18-5cm","provider":"Sugi Bonsai","version":"1.0","type":"link"}