Ikko (Tokoname) - Unglazed Vermillion Rectangle - 6½ in (16cm)

Informal information:

From Ikkou's top line of unglazed pots comes this premium shohin pot. The style is inspired by the best antique Chinese pots. The main difference is that Ikkou's pots are, I believe, more highly vitrified in the Japanese style than traditional Kowatari and Nakawatari pots, which are more porous and less tolerant of freezing.

The clay in his best unglazed pots is Chinese, this preserves an authentic line and gets as possible to the look of the best Kowatari and Nakawatari pots. I expect he may adjust this to make the pots more vitreous, but I don't know. You can see a fine grained grog (sand), and occassional black spots, which are concentrations of feldspar and Iron, these are features found in the best of the ancient Chinese pots.

These are some of the reasons that Ikkou is rated as one of the best living makers of shohin pots, his pots are used at all the shows in Japan. If you aspire to grow shohin coniferous trees, an Ikkou pot should be near the top of your wishlist.

This particular example has been used and well looked after, and has developed a deep rich patina akin to a Chinese Nakawatari example. This coupled with the box and cloth make this a really stellar example of his work and could be used in shows across the world.

Condition is used, excellent.

Ikko, (Tokoname) Kazuhiro Watanabe is the son of Shozan, he set out to differentiate his work from his fathers by focussing on small pots. Bonsai Empire featured him in their videos of Tokoname potters, which you can find here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hog0yLdLdfI&t=31s.