Name: Yamaaki 山秋, square flared form 末広形, yellow glazed.
Region: Tokoname 常滑市
Kiln: Yamaaki Kiln 山秋窯
Potter: Kataoka Toshio 片岡俊雄 (Yamaaki 3rd Generation 山秋三代)
Markings: Hand-signed (手彫り銘) “山秋三代 片岡俊雄” with impressed seal mark (印銘)
This is a vintage, artisan-made Japanese bonsai pot crafted by Kataoka Toshio of the Yamaaki Kiln. The pot has an elegant suehiro-gata 末広形 flared square form with an outward-sweeping lip that creates a refined sense of balance. Its warm mustard-yellow glaze, known as karashiyu 辛子釉, is smooth with subtle tonal variation and a soft sheen characteristic of mid-period Yamaaki work. The unglazed interior reveals the rich reddish Tokoname clay 常滑赤土, creating a natural contrast against the glossy exterior.
The pot is equipped with four wiring holes 針金穴 and a central drainage hole 排水穴. The interior base carries the impressed seal 落款 along with a hand-incised signature 手書き銘, confirming its authenticity as a work by the third-generation Yamaaki master. There is a small glaze flaw on the upper rim, clearly shown in the photographs, a typical result of handmade kiln-fired Tokoname craftsmanship.
External dimensions: 22.4 × 22.4 × 14.5 cm
Internal dimensions: 18.0 × 18.0 × 13.0 cm
Condition: Excellent overall, with only the minor upper-rim glaze imperfection as noted and shown, and reflected on the price, as this is a signed pot.
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Yamaaki, 3rd Generation Potter Kataoka Toshio. The kiln was started by Kataoka Akitsuga and fired by three generations of potters, until it finally went 'cold' in 2011. It was the most productive bonsai pot kiln in Tokoname, fired with gas, which gives those fantastic clay colours mimicking the pots of ancient China. There are many production Yamaaki pots available; those with nail-carved signatures were handmade by the Kataoka family and are consequently more valuable.
