Gyouzan 暁山 — 1st Generation Nakano Yukizyou 中野行山 — Tokoname, Aichi（常滑市）— 30.2cm Square Unglazed Hand-Signed Bonsai Pot（正方鉢・無釉・爪描き銘）
Product Details / 鉢の詳細
Region / 産地: Tokoname, Aichi Prefecture（常滑市）
Kiln / 窯: Gyouzan Kiln（暁山窯）
Potter / 作家: 1st Generation Gyouzan, Nakano Yukizyou（初代 暁山・中野行山）
Style / 形式: Handmade square unglazed bonsai pot（手作り正方無釉鉢）
Clay / 土味: Unglazed Tokoname clay（常滑無釉土）
Signature / 銘: Hand-signed / nail-carved signature（爪描き銘）
Description / 説明
A powerful handmade Japanese bonsai pot by first-generation Gyouzan（初代 暁山）, Nakano Yukizyou（中野行山）, from the Tokoname ceramic tradition of Aichi Prefecture（常滑市）. This piece is made in a strong square form, seihou-bachi（正方鉢）, with clean straight sides, sharp corner definition, and a deep, practical planting space.
The pot is finished in unglazed Tokoname clay, muyu（無釉）, with a warm brown to grey-brown tone and a naturally textured surface. The clay shows excellent tsuchi-aji（土味）, with subtle firing variation, fine grain, and a mature-aged character, jidai-kan（時代感）. The overall impression is restrained, strong, and very shibui（渋い）, making it especially suitable for powerful bonsai material.
The body has a straight, architectural profile with a clean upper edge and firm square proportions. The lower section is neatly cut to form stable feet, kiri-ashi（切足）, giving the pot a grounded and balanced appearance. The corners are well defined, and the simple form allows the quality of the clay and craftsmanship to remain the main focus.
The underside is carefully finished with drainage and wiring holes, including a central cluster of drainage openings, mizunuki-ana（水抜き穴）, and multiple wiring holes, harigane-ana（針金穴）, making the pot practical for bonsai cultivation. The base also shows the hand-signed nail-carved Gyouzan mark, tsumegaki-mei（爪描き銘）, an important detail for collectors and a strong indication of individual handmade work.
A substantial and highly characterful Tokoname bonsai pot by first-generation Gyouzan, ideal for a mature bonsai requiring strength, restraint, and quiet authority. The square form, unglazed clay surface, and hand-signed base make this a particularly desirable collector-quality container.
External dimensions: 30.2 x 30.0 x 9.0cm
Internal dimensions: 27.0 x 26.9 x 7.4cm
Condition: Excellent condition. Light age-related patina, minor firing variation, and natural clay texture are present, consistent with a handmade, unglazed Tokoname bonsai pot.
