Description
This exquisite round Nanban style bonsai pot by Matsushita Reiho exemplifies the wabi-sabi aesthetic prized in high-end bonsai display. The unglazed clay features a deeply textured, earthy finish that mimics the primitive charm of ancient pottery. The rim is subtly irregular, a hallmark of the Nanban style, which softens the visual transition between the container and the soil line. The clay itself is a rich, dark color and will only improve with age and use, grounding the composition with a sense of stability and history.
The rustic nature of this pot makes it an ideal companion for Literati (Bunjin) style trees, where the container’s simplicity allows the tree’s elegant trunk movement to take center stage. It is particularly well-suited for a Juniper, Japanese Black Pine, or a wild, flowering species like Prunus (Ume), where the rough texture of the pot contrasts beautifully with delicate flowers or rugged bark.
- Outer dimensions: 18.5 x 18.5 x 4.5 cm
- Inner dimensions: 16.5 x 16.5 x 3.5 cm
- Origin: Tokoname, Japan
- Potter/Kiln: Matsushita Reiho (Tokoname Master)
- Condition: Excellent
About the potter:
Reiho is a distinguished kiln located in Tokoname, Japan, operated by the Matsushita family, notably master Matsushita Reiji and his successor Hiroyuki. While the kiln is versatile, producing refined glazed works, Matsushita Reiji is particularly celebrated for his unglazed “Nanban” style containers. These works utilize specific clay blends to achieve a primitive, rugged texture that harmonizes perfectly with the Bunjin (literati) style of bonsai.
