NAKANO GYOZAN 中野 行山 "Hand signed 爪描き" - 常滑 - 39.5cm Round 丸鉢 – Unglazed 無釉

Region / 産地: Tokoname 常滑市, Aichi Prefecture 愛知県, Japan 日本

Kiln / 窯元: Gyouzan Kiln 暁山窯

Potter / 作家: 2nd Generation Gyozan – Nakano Yuuji 二代目 暁山・中野裕二

Form / 形状: Round 丸鉢 / Marubachi

Finish / 仕上げ: Unglazed 無釉 / Muyu

Hand Signed / 手彫り銘: 爪描き / Tsumegaki

Inscription / 銘: 中野裕二造 – “Made by Nakano Yuuji”

A beautifully proportioned vintage, artisan-made Japanese bonsai pot by 2nd Generation Gyozan, Nakano Yuuji 二代目 暁山・中野裕二, produced in Tokoname 常滑市.

This substantial round bonsai pot 丸鉢 (marubachi) has a full, softly swollen profile with a strong yet restrained presence. The body 胴 (do) curves smoothly inward towards the base, creating a broad, rounded silhouette with an excellent sense of 安定感 (anteikan – stability) and harmonious proportion.

The upper edge is broad and softly rounded, forming a substantial lip 口縁 (koen) that gives definition to the otherwise remarkably clean and uninterrupted exterior. Inside, the planting chamber is finished with a clearly defined internal rim 内縁 (uchibuchi), following the circular form of the pot and adding refinement to the construction.

One of the most distinctive features is the set of recessed cloud-shaped feet 雲足 (kumo-ashi). Each foot is individually incised and decorated with elegant scrolling cloud motifs, while their recessed positioning beneath the body allows them to provide lift and stability without interrupting the strong rounded silhouette. This subtle detailing gives the pot considerable character when viewed from below or at planting height.

The unglazed Tokoname clay 常滑無釉土 has matured into an attractive warm reddish-brown and earthy brown colouration, with subtle variations across the surface. Its fine texture and natural ageing give the pot an appealing 土味 (tsuchi-aji – character of the clay), while the developing surface patina and tonal variation contribute to its 景色 (keshiki – visual character acquired through age and use).

The base is thoughtfully arranged for both drainage and secure anchoring of a bonsai. At its centre is a distinctive flower-shaped drainage opening, surrounded by four larger circular holes and eight smaller wiring holes, providing excellent 排水 (haisui – drainage) and numerous points for 針金固定 (harigane kotei – wire anchoring).

The underside bears the hand-incised inscription 中野裕二造, meaning “Made by Nakano Yuuji”, providing direct identification of the maker. The hand-worked 爪描き (tsumegaki) signature is an important feature of the piece and confirms its attribution to 2nd Generation Gyozan, Nakano Yuuji 二代目 暁山・中野裕二.

The combination of the generous rounded form, substantial lip, internal rim 内縁, beautifully carved recessed 雲足, mature Tokoname clay and carefully considered drainage arrangement creates a pot with considerable 造形美 (zokei-bi – beauty of form) and 渋み (shibumi – understated refinement).

External Dimensions / 外寸: 39.5 × 15.5cm

Internal Dimensions / 内寸: 33.5 × 13.0cm

Condition / 状態: Excellent! 非常に良好. No chips, cracks or structural flaws visible.

About the Potter / 作家について – 2nd Generation Gyozan, Nakano Yuuji 二代目 暁山・中野裕二

Nakano Yuuji 中野裕二 is the 2nd Generation Gyozan 二代目 暁山, continuing the Tokoname bonsai-pot tradition associated with the Gyouzan Kiln 暁山窯.His work is appreciated for careful proportion, refined construction and an understanding of traditional bonsai-pot forms, particularly unglazed pieces 無釉鉢 where the character of the clay 土味 / tsuchi-aji and the balance of the form are allowed to take precedence over decoration.This example reflects those qualities particularly well. The broad, rounded body, clear internal rim (内縁), clean absence of external bands, recessed, carved cloud feet (雲足), and carefully considered drainage and wiring system demonstrate both practical understanding and strong formal discipline.

Collector’s Note / コレクターズノート

Hand-signed works by 2nd Generation Gyozan, Nakano Yuuji 二代目 暁山・中野裕二 are particularly attractive to collectors because the 爪描き (tsumegaki) inscription reflects direct hand involvement in the making of the pot.The underside inscription 中野裕二造 is especially important, as it directly names the maker and supports the attribution to Nakano Yuuji. Combined with the distinctive recessed cloud-shaped feet 雲足, internal rim 内縁, warm 常滑無釉土, and developing 景色, this gives the pot both strong functional value and considerable collector interest.The result is a refined example of 常滑盆栽鉢, where 形 (katachi – form), 土味 (tsuchi-aji – clay character), 実用性 (jitsuyosei – function) and 渋み (shibumi – understated refinement) are brought together in a balanced and quietly powerful way.