HOKIDO (北斗) – 常滑 Tokoname (常滑市) – 10.6cm Rectangular 長方鉢 – Unglazed 無釉

Product Details / 商品詳細:

Region / 産地: Tokoname 常滑市, Aichi Prefecture 愛知県
Kiln / 窯元: Hokido (峰輝堂)
Potter / 陶工: Hokido (峰輝堂)
Style / 形式: Artisan-made Japanese rectangular unglazed bonsai pot 長方無釉盆栽鉢
Seal / Mark / 落款: Impressed square Hokido (峰輝堂) kiln seal to the underside

Description / 説明:

A finely made Japanese bonsai pot (盆栽鉢 / bonsai-bachi) by Hokido (峰輝堂) of Tokoname (常滑市), presented in a compact rectangular form (長方鉢 / choho-bachi) and made from an attractive warm reddish-brown unglazed clay (無釉 / muyu).

Despite measuring only 10.6cm across, the pot has a remarkably strong architectural presence. The body (胴 / do) is relatively deep for its compact dimensions, with gently outward-flaring walls (外広がり / soto-hirogari) that broaden subtly towards the upper edge and give the container a substantial yet well-balanced profile (調和 / chowa).

One of the most distinctive characteristics is the treatment of the four corners (四隅 / yosumi). Each corner is strongly defined by a broad vertical facet (面取り / mentori) extending from the upper edge towards the base. These carefully formed faceted corners break up the otherwise restrained rectangular body and create an attractive interplay of planes and subtle tonal variation across the clay.

The upper edge (口縁 / koen) is clean and restrained, maintaining the simplicity (簡素 / kanso) of the overall form while allowing the pronounced mentori (面取り) corner treatment and proportions of the body to provide the principal visual interest.

The pot stands on four integrally formed corner feet (四足 / yon-ashi), carefully incorporated into the geometry of the vessel. Viewed from the underside (鉢底 / hachizoko), the feet and adjoining recessed sections follow the shaped corners of the pot, producing an unusually detailed and carefully finished base. The slight elevation created by the feet gives the relatively deep body a convincing sense of stability (安定感 / anteikan) while preventing the form from appearing overly heavy.

The unglazed clay (無釉土 / muyu-tsuchi) has particularly attractive tsuchi-aji (土味), displaying warm reddish-brown and earthy brown tones with subtle natural variation across the surface. The restrained unglazed finish allows the character of the clay (土味 / tsuchi-aji) and the crispness of the construction to remain the principal focus, giving the pot an understated shibui (渋い) character.

The underside (鉢底 / hachizoko) is neatly finished and bears a clearly impressed square Hokido (峰輝堂) kiln seal (窯印 / kama-jirushi), providing an important identifying feature of the piece.

The base incorporates one large central round drainage hole (中央排水穴 / chuo haisui-ana) accompanied by four smaller round drainage/wiring holes (排水・針金穴 / haisui-hari-ana) positioned towards the corners. This traditional and practical arrangement provides effective drainage (排水 / haisui) together with multiple anchoring points for securely wiring (針金 / harigane) a bonsai into the container.

The combination of its compact dimensions, relatively deep planting area, warm unglazed clay and strongly faceted mentori (面取り) construction gives this small Hokido pot considerable character. The pronounced corners (四隅 / yosumi), integrated four-foot construction (四足 / yon-ashi) and disciplined choho-bachi (長方鉢) proportions create a particularly pleasing sense of chowa (調和) — balance and harmony — while retaining the restrained aesthetic (渋い / shibui) associated with traditional Japanese bonsai ceramics (盆栽陶器).

External dimensions / 外寸: 10.6 × 8.4 × 4.0cm

Condition / 状態: Excellent! 非常に良好

Free shipping to mainland UK on this pot.

Collector’s Note / コレクターズノート:

This compact Hokido (峰輝堂) pot is particularly appealing for the amount of architectural detail incorporated into such a small bonsai-bachi (盆栽鉢). At only 10.6cm, the broad mentori (面取り) faceted corners and relatively deep do (胴) give it a much stronger visual presence than its dimensions might initially suggest.

The underside (鉢底 / hachizoko) is equally considered, with four integrally formed corner feet (四足 / yon-ashi) following the geometry of the body, one large central drainage hole (排水穴), four auxiliary drainage/wiring holes (排水・針金穴) and a clearly impressed square Hokido (峰輝堂) kiln seal (窯印).

The warm reddish-brown tsuchi-aji (土味) of the unglazed clay (無釉), combined with the strong choho (長方) form, carefully executed mentori (面取り) corners and compact but substantial proportions, gives this small pot an excellent sense of shibui (渋い) and chowa (調和) characteristic of refined Japanese bonsai pottery (日本盆栽鉢).