Product Details:
Region: Japan, Tokoname (常滑・愛知県)
Kiln Lineage: Tokoname-yaki 常滑焼
Potter: Kousen 光泉
Product Description:
This is a vintage, artisan-made Japanese bonsai pot by Kōsen (光山), produced in Tokoname, one of Japan’s Six Ancient Kilns (日本六古窯). The pot is round in form with a refined internal rim (内縁) that is subtly stepped, giving the profile a strong yet calm sense of balance. The lip (口縁) is softly defined and contributes to the overall feeling of stability and proportion. The pot stands on neatly incised feet (彫り足), carefully cut and well aligned, reinforcing its grounded presence.
The exterior is finished in a rich green ash glaze (緑釉) that shows natural kiln variation and gentle pooling along the lower basal band (下帯). Over time, the glaze has matured beautifully, developing an attractive aged surface. The Tokoname clay body beneath, slightly groggy in texture (常滑土), displays an excellent patina (古色), highly regarded by collectors and indicative of age and authenticity.
The base is well designed for practical bonsai use, with a central drainage hole (排水穴) and three surrounding wiring holes (針金穴), allowing secure anchoring of the tree and proper water flow. The impressed seal 光山 is clearly visible on the base, confirming the potter’s authorship.
External dimensions: 19.0 × 4.7 cm
Internal dimensions: 15.0 × 3.1 cm
Condition: Excellent. The pot shows no cracks, repairs, or structural issues, with only minor age-appropriate wear consistent with a vintage Tokoname bonsai container.
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About the Potter:
Kōsen (光山) was a Tokoname-based potter known for producing functional, well-balanced bonsai pots that embody the Tokoname ideal of yō no bi (用の美), the beauty of use. His works favor restrained forms, durable clay bodies, and glazes that age gracefully rather than dominate the composition. Pots by Kōsen are appreciated by collectors for their quiet elegance, reliability in cultivation, and their ability to complement classical bonsai without distraction.
