NAKANO GYOZAN 中野 行山 "Hand signed 爪描き" - 常滑 - 43.0cm Oval Unglazed Bonsai Pot 楕円鉢 無釉

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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）
Hand-signed / (爪描き)

Description / 説明:

A vintage artisan-made Japanese bonsai pot（日本製・職人作の盆栽鉢）by 1st Generation Gyouzan, Nakano Yukizyou（初代 行山・中野行常）, produced in Tokoname（常滑）and presented in a substantial classical oval form（楕円鉢）.

The pot has a beautifully proportioned, gently swelling body（胴張り）which curves naturally outward through its centre before drawing inward towards the base. This soft continuous curvature gives the vessel considerable visual strength while retaining the restrained elegance（渋み・品格）associated with high-quality traditional Tokoname bonsai ceramics.

The upper edge is particularly refined. A rounded projecting lip（口縁）runs continuously around the oval, immediately beneath which is a clearly defined upper band（上帯）. Together, these create a precise horizontal termination to the otherwise softly curved body.

At the bottom, the body draws into a fine basal band（下帯）, establishing another clean horizontal line before transitioning into four broad recessed feet（四足・引込足）. The feet closely follow the curvature of the oval rather than interrupting it, giving the pot a low, grounded stance（安定感）while preserving the continuity of its silhouette.

The unglazed Tokoname clay（常滑土・無釉）has matured into an attractive warm brown colour with subtle variations of darker brown and ochre across the surface. Its understated ageing character（経年変化・古色）and fine clay texture（土味）give the pot considerable depth without detracting from the simplicity of the form.

The underside demonstrates the functional attention given to this large bonsai container. It incorporates six substantial peripheral drainage/wiring holes（排水・針金兼用穴）, together with four smaller wiring holes（針金穴）. At the centre is an especially distinctive four-aperture drainage opening, arranged as a compact decorative motif while providing additional drainage.

Importantly for collectors, the underside bears the characteristic hand-incised signature（爪描き・手彫り銘） of Nakano Gyouzan. The individually carved strokes are an important feature of the pot and distinguish this signed work from ordinary production pieces.

The combination of the swelling oval body, strong rounded lip, upper and lower bands, recessed contour-following feet and beautifully aged unglazed clay creates a pot with an excellent sense of balance（均衡）, quiet refinement（渋さ） and substantial presence.

External Dimensions / 外寸: 43.0 × 36.7 × 10.5cm

Internal Dimensions / 内寸: 38.6 × 32.3 × 8.3cm

Condition / 状態: Excellent（状態良好）.

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About the Potter – Nakano Gyozan 中野行山

Nakano Gyozan（中野行山）, also known as Nakano Yukizou, was one of the most highly regarded modern bonsai-pot makers of Tokoname（常滑）, renowned particularly for the exceptional quality of his large unglazed containers（大型無釉鉢）. His work became internationally recognised among bonsai professionals and collectors, and Gyozan pots have been used beneath important trees displayed at Japan's prestigious Kokufu Bonsai Exhibition（国風盆栽展）.

Gyozan developed a distinctive approach in which traditional Tokoname craftsmanship（常滑焼の伝統技法）was combined with exceptionally controlled proportions, strong architectural forms and carefully selected clays. His finest pots possess the quiet strength and restraint associated with shibui（渋い）, allowing the container to complement an important bonsai without competing with it. His work became sufficiently recognised internationally that his philosophy was described in Japan as creating “bonsai pots for the 22nd century”, reflecting his intention that the pots should continue developing character far into the future.

Of particular importance to collectors are his individually handmade and hand-signed works（手作り・爪描き）. Rather than relying solely upon a kiln stamp, these pieces carry Gyozan's hand-incised signature, physically cut into the clay by the potter himself. A substantial hand-signed example such as this therefore represents not simply a Tokoname bonsai container, but an identifiable piece of the master's personal work.

Nakano Gyozan passed away in February 2026, at the time Japan's bonsai community was celebrating the historic 100th Kokufu Bonsai Exhibition（第100回国風盆栽展）. His passing marked the end of an important chapter in contemporary Tokoname bonsai ceramics. Specialist Japanese-bonsai sources now explicitly describe his pots as the work of the late master, and tributes published following his death have recognised his importance to modern bonsai pottery.

For collectors, his death gives surviving handmade and hand-signed Gyozan pots（行山手作り鉢・爪描き） an additional historical significance. They form part of the finite body of work left by a potter whose containers have become closely associated with the highest levels of modern Japanese bonsai.