YAMAAKI (山秋窯) 3rd Generation Kataoka Toshio (片岡俊夫 作) - 小松泉 - 常滑 - 41.3cm Rectangular Unglazed Bonsai Pot 長方鉢 無釉

Product Details / 鉢の詳細

Region / 産地: Tokoname, Aichi Prefecture, Japan 常滑市・愛知県
Kiln / 窯元: Yamaaki Kiln 山秋窯
Artist / 作家: 3rd Generation Kataoka Toshio 三代目 片岡俊夫

Description / 説明:

A vintage artisan-made Japanese bonsai pot（日本製・職人作の盆栽鉢 / 和鉢）from the celebrated Yamaaki Kiln 山秋窯 of Tokoname 常滑, made by 3rd Generation Kataoka Toshio 三代目 片岡俊夫.

This substantial rectangular bonsai pot（長方鉢 – choho-bachi） has a beautifully controlled and powerful form（力強い造形）, combining a deep body（深胴）, gently rounded corners（丸みを帯びた角）, a discreet internal rim（内縁）, four stepped feet（四方段足）and distinctive incised window panels（窓形彫り）on all four faces（四面）.

The 窓形彫り – mado-gata hori is one of the defining features of this particular pot. Each of the four sides is decorated with a long, carefully proportioned window-shaped field outlined directly into the clay by a fine incised line（線彫り）. The longer front and rear faces carry elongated horizontal windows, while the shorter side panels are proportioned accordingly.

The ends of each 窓形彫り are subtly articulated rather than simply squared off, giving the decoration a more deliberate handcrafted appearance（手仕事の趣）. Because the design is executed only through restrained incision（彫り込み）rather than heavy relief decoration, it adds architectural interest while preserving the quiet aesthetic of the unglazed pot（無釉鉢の静かな美しさ）.

The four corners are gently rounded（丸みを帯びた四隅）, allowing the body（胴）to transition smoothly from one face to the next. This softness contrasts particularly well with the geometric 窓形彫り, producing a pleasing balance between 柔らかさ（yawarakasa – softness） and 力強さ（chikarazuyosa – strength）.

The upper opening is finished with a discreet internal rim（内縁 – uchi-beri）. Its restrained construction gives definition to the planting opening（植込口）without interrupting the clean exterior profile of the pot.

Beneath the body are four substantial stepped feet（段足 – dan-ashi）, positioned at the corners（四隅）. Their broad construction gives the relatively deep container an excellent sense of 安定感（anteikan – stability）, while the stepped treatment（段付き）provides a subtle architectural detail that corresponds beautifully with the geometric window decoration above.

The unglazed Tokoname clay（常滑土・無釉）has fired to a particularly attractive deep reddish chocolate-brown colour（赤褐色・濃茶色）. Its finely granular surface（細かな土肌）gives the pot excellent 土味（tsuchi-aji – character and quality of the clay）, with subtle tonal variation（焼き色の変化）visible across the body.

The combination of 土味, subdued firing colour（落ち着いた焼き色）and restrained decoration creates a strong feeling of 渋み（shibumi – understated refinement） and 侘び寂び（wabi-sabi）, qualities particularly appropriate for an aged Japanese bonsai container（古鉢の趣）.

The base（鉢底）incorporates two large primary drainage holes（主排水穴 二箇所） together with four smaller combined drainage and wiring holes（排水・針金兼用穴 四箇所）. This practical arrangement provides excellent 排水性（drainage） while allowing secure anchoring of the tree with wire（針金による樹木固定）.

Of particular collector importance is the underside, which carries a hand-incised signature（爪描き – tsumegaki） together with an additional impressed mark（押印）. The presence of 爪描き is an important feature on Yamaaki pottery and distinguishes this example from the numerous standard production pieces carrying only conventional kiln markings..

Overall, this is a particularly characterful Yamaaki 山秋窯 長方鉢, combining 四面窓形彫り（incised window panels on all four faces）, 丸みを帯びた四隅（rounded corners）, 内縁（internal rim）, 四方段足（four stepped feet）, rich 土味, and the valuable 爪描き signature.

The result is a container with excellent 造形美（zokei-bi – beauty of form）, 安定感（anteikan – stability）, 調和（chowa – harmony） and 品格（hinkaku – dignity）.

Its deep rectangular form（深型長方鉢）and dark unglazed clay would be particularly well suited to a mature Japanese Black Pine（黒松）, Japanese White Pine（五葉松）, Shimpaku Juniper（真柏）, or another substantial conifer（松柏盆栽）where a powerful but understated container is required.

Maximum External Dimensions / 最大外寸: 41.3 × 30.9 × 13.0cm
Internal Dimensions / 内寸: 36.8 × 26.5 × 10.5cm

Condition / 状態: Excellent / 状態良好

There is some watermarking（水跡） on the clay surface. A light application of oil（薄く油を塗布）restores the richness and depth of the clay colour and makes the watermarking disappear, as demonstrated in the photographs.