24869: Nakawatari Chinese Antique Round Bowl - 11½ in (29cm)

Informal information:

Something special for a Juniper bonsaist? Simple yet subtle, this pot exudes warmth, a sense of great age and deep wabi-sabi.

This pot is expertly thrown, the thickness of the walls and base are thin but not overly so. The depth of the rim is perfectly balanced by the lower bead above the feet, and everything else is left to the quality of Zisha clay, and the patina of over 100 years of use as a bonsai pot.

Age has taken it's toll a little, there are numerous small chips and dings. But look how long ago some of those happened - many have as deep a patina as the rest of the pot! This is why we shouldn't become unduly concerned about small defects - they show time served as a useful, precious item, exposed to the elements in a garden.

Speaking of patina, THIS is what antique patina looks like, make a note! See how it only affects part of the rim, how it fades towards the bottom, and how there's a small gap of bright clay just above the lower bead. These details are worth studying if you're interested in show level pots, although not all antique pots show patina.

This pot is likely to be slightly porous and should be protected from frost and not exposed to temperatures below 5°c.

I don't want to dwell on this, but I do think ownership of pots with this kind of heritage comes with some responsibilities as a custodian. Potential buyers should enjoy it, and do their best to protect it for future generations, be that protection from frost or falling; it isn't difficult, but it does require mindfulness. Speech over :)

Condition: Used, chips, patina, excellent.

Wu Desheng - Nakawatari era pottery, circa 1800-1911. This was a large outfit in Yixing, China, and was very productive, presumably bonsai pots only made up a small portion of their wares. Their pots are one of the more commonly available of these antique pots. Typical features are traditional designs, fine grained red Zisha clay with a very subtle pear skin texture. Name in the MRB database is 'Kotokusei'.