BIGEI 美芸 (Hirata Atsumi 平田あつみ) – Tokoname 常滑市 – 30.6cm Cut-Corner Rectangular 隅切長方形 – Unglazed 無釉

Product Details / 鉢の詳細

Region / 産地: Tokoname 常滑市, Aichi Prefecture 愛知県
Kiln / 窯元: Bigei 美芸
Potter / 作家: Hirata Atsumi 平田あつみ
Form / 形状: Cut-Corner Rectangular（隅切長方形鉢）
Finish / 仕上げ: Unglazed（無釉）
Signature / 銘: Hand-incised Bigei signature（美芸手彫り銘）
Box / 箱: Original fitted wooden box（共箱）, inscribed 美芸盆器

Description / 説明

A refined artisan-made Japanese bonsai pot （日本製手造り盆栽鉢） by Bigei 美芸, Hirata Atsumi 平田あつみ, from Tokoname 常滑市, Aichi Prefecture 愛知県.

This substantial cut-corner rectangular pot（隅切長方形鉢） has a beautifully architectural construction, combining strong proportions （均整の取れた造形） with Bigei's precise and restrained finishing.

The body is defined by distinctive cut corners（隅切）, creating an elegant faceted transition between each face. The walls rise with a gentle outward flare towards a broad projecting lip（外縁）, finished along its upper edge with a delicate raised border（口縁隆起線.
Each face incorporates a finely executed window-frame design（窓枠意匠）, carefully shaped to complement the 隅切 corners. The framed sides give the pot a strong architectural rhythm and refined 造形美（zokei-bi）.

The lower body is beautifully finished with a defined double basal band（二重下帯）, providing a layered horizontal foundation beneath the 窓枠意匠 and balancing the broad 外縁 above.

The pot stands on four substantial corner-positioned, diagonally cut feet（四隅斜め切足）. Their angular construction follows the geometry of the 隅切 body, creating a strong continuation from the cut corners into the feet and providing excellent 安定感（anteikan）.

The unglazed Tokoname clay （常滑無釉土） has a rich reddish to chocolate-brown tone with a beautifully smooth and controlled surface. Its restrained 土味（tsuchi-aji） complements the precise construction, creating an attractive combination of 渋み（shibumi）, 品格（hinkaku） and 調和（chowa）.

The base incorporates two principal drainage holes（二ヶ所の排水穴） together with four smaller wiring holes（四ヶ所の針金穴）, providing effective 排水 and secure 針金固定.

The underside carries the hand-incised Bigei signature（美芸手彫り銘).

The pot is accompanied by its fitted wooden presentation/storage box（共箱）, with the lid inscribed 美芸盆器. The presence of the 共箱 is particularly desirable for a collector piece, keeping the pot and its original presentation together.

External Dimensions / 外寸: 30.6 × 24.2 × 9.4cm
Internal Dimensions / 内寸: 25.9 × 19.3 × 8.3cm

Condition / 状態: Excellent（非常に良好）
Included / 付属品: Original fitted wooden box（共箱）

Free Shipping to UK Mainland / 英国本土送料無料

About the Potter / 作家について

Bigei 美芸 – Hirata Atsumi 平田あつみ, born in 1939, is a recognised Tokoname bonsai-pot artist （常滑盆栽鉢作家）. He began working with ceramics in 1958 and came to Tokoname in 1969.

Bigei is particularly appreciated for his precise construction （精緻な造形）, refined unglazed clay （無釉土）, clean finishing and distinctive interpretation of traditional bonsai-pot forms （伝統的盆栽鉢）.

Collector's Note / コレクターズノート

A particularly architectural Bigei 美芸 example, combining 隅切, finely framed 窓枠意匠, a raised and bordered 外縁, elegant 二重下帯, and substantial 四隅斜め切足.

The continuation of the 隅切 geometry into the corner-positioned feet gives the pot an especially cohesive form. Together with the reddish-chocolate 常滑無釉土, precise detailing and hand-incised 美芸銘, the pot displays excellent 土味・渋み・品格, making it a distinctive collector example of Bigei's Tokoname craftsmanship.