REIHOU 玲峰 (Matsushita Reiji 松下礼治) – Tokoname 常滑 – 37.0cm Round Drum 丸太鼓形 – Unglazed 無釉

Product Details / 鉢の詳細

Region / 産地: Tokoname, Aichi Prefecture（愛知県常滑市）, Japan 日本
Kiln / 窯: Seizan Kiln（誠山窯）
Potter / 作家: REIHOU 玲峰 – Matsushita Reiji（松下礼治）
Form / 形状: Round Drum Form（丸太鼓形 – maru taiko-gata）
Finish / 仕上げ: Unglazed（無釉 – muyu）
Production / 製作: Artisan-made Japanese Bonsai Pot（日本製・職人作盆栽鉢）

Description / 説明

A substantial vintage artisan-made Japanese bonsai pot（和鉢 – wabachi）by REIHOU 玲峰, Matsushita Reiji（松下礼治）, from Tokoname（常滑）, one of Japan's historic centres of ceramic production.

At an impressive 37.0cm in diameter, the pot is formed in a broad and relatively shallow round drum form（丸太鼓形 – maru taiko-gata）, giving it considerable presence and a powerful sense of 安定感（anteikan – stability and balance）.

The cylindrical body（胴 – do）is defined by a continuous decorative treatment of raised rounded studs or bosses（鋲飾り – byo-kazari）. These are arranged around the circumference in a strong horizontal rhythm, while additional studs form distinctive triangular groupings（三角構成 – sankaku kosei） at intervals.

This use of 鋲（byo） is particularly appropriate to the 太鼓形（taiko-gata） architecture. The raised bosses recall the visible studs and fastenings traditionally associated with Japanese drums（太鼓）, reinforcing the relationship between the pot's cylindrical form and the drum from which this style takes its name.

Rather than being merely ornamental, the 鋲飾り gives rhythm and movement to the otherwise restrained circular body and provides an appealing contrast between disciplined geometry（造形）and decorative hand craftsmanship（手仕事）.

The upper opening is finished with a restrained inward-turning rim（内縁 – uchi-beri）, creating a strong but controlled termination to the body without an excessively projecting exterior lip. This treatment helps contain the planting visually while maintaining the clean, circular silhouette.

The lower profile is carefully structured, creating a subtle transition from the decorated body towards the base and feet（足 – ashi）. This architectural treatment gives the pot a grounded stance while preserving the broad horizontal character essential to a successful 太鼓形鉢（taiko-gata bachi）.

The unglazed Tokoname clay（常滑無釉土 – Tokoname muyu-tsuchi）has a warm, earthy brown colour with subtle natural variation. The surface possesses attractive 土味（tsuchi-aji – character of the clay）, allowing the natural qualities of the ceramic body to remain visually important.

Age and use have further enriched the surface, producing attractive 経年変化（keinen henka – changes through age） and natural 景色（keshiki）. These subtle variations give the clay greater depth and contribute to the quiet 渋み（shibumi – understated refinement） expected from a mature Japanese bonsai container.

The underside（鉢底 – hachizoko）incorporates a large central drainage hole（中央排水穴） accompanied by four smaller wiring holes（針金穴 – harigane-ana）, providing efficient drainage（排水）and secure anchoring of the tree.

The underside also carries the potter's markings（落款 – rakkan）, including an impressed seal（印）and hand-worked inscriptions associated with REIHOU 玲峰 / Matsushita Reiji 松下礼治.

The combination of its substantial 丸太鼓形, rhythmic 鋲飾り, restrained 内縁, warm 常滑無釉土, mature 土味 and strong proportions gives this pot an excellent balance of 造形美（zokei-bi – beauty of form）, 実用性（jitsuyosei – functionality） and 安定感（anteikan）.

External Dimensions / 外寸: 37.0 x 37.0 x 8.0cm 
Internal Dimensions / 内寸: 32.5 x 32.5 x 6.7cm 

Condition / 状態: Excellent!
非常に良好な状態です。

No cracks, chips or repairs（ヒビ・欠け・補修なし）.

Free Shipping to UK Mainland / 英国本土送料無料

About the Potter / 作家について – REIHOU 玲峰 (Matsushita Reiji 松下礼治)

REIHOU（玲峰）, Matsushita Reiji（松下礼治）, is associated with the renowned ceramic tradition of Tokoname（常滑）in Aichi Prefecture（愛知県）, an area with a long history of specialist bonsai-pot production（盆栽鉢製作）.

Tokoname is recognised as one of Japan's historic ceramic centres and is counted among the Six Ancient Kilns of Japan（日本六古窯 – Nihon Rokkoyo）. Within this tradition, bonsai containers have developed into a specialised ceramic art in which horticultural function and aesthetic refinement must work together.

REIHOU's work demonstrates an appreciation for traditional forms（伝統形）, careful proportion（均整）, practical construction（実用性）and the natural character of clay（土味）. His pots are designed not merely as containers, but as an integral part of the relationship between tree and vessel（樹と鉢の調和).

Collector's Note / コレクターズノート

This substantial 37.0cm round drum pot（丸太鼓形鉢） is particularly interesting for the close relationship between its architecture and decoration.

The broad cylindrical 太鼓形 body is complemented by prominent 鋲飾り（byo-kazari）, recalling the studs associated with traditional Japanese drums. The additional triangular arrangements of raised bosses（三角構成の鋲文様）give the decoration considerably more individuality than the simple continuous rows encountered on many conventional drum-form bonsai pots.

The scale is also noteworthy. At 46.2cm, the pot has the breadth and visual strength necessary to accompany a substantial mature bonsai while maintaining the low profile and horizontal 安定感 required of the form.

Its warm unglazed Tokoname clay（常滑無釉土）has developed attractive 経年変化 and 景色, while the natural surface retains excellent 土味. Together with the potter's 落款, these characteristics give the piece considerable appeal as both a functional bonsai container and an example of traditional Tokoname ceramic craftsmanship（常滑陶芸）.

The result is a pot that successfully combines 伝統（tradition）, 手仕事（hand craftsmanship）, 実用性（functionality）and 造形美（beauty of form） — qualities central to the finest Japanese bonsai containers.