Flex123 on mon 7 oct 96
My name is Dave Bockman, and I'm a bonsai artist and grower (meaning that
I propogate plant material specifically for bonsai) who is on a mission: I
want to find out all I can about pottery as it relates to bonsai.
Traditionally, the finer pots for bonsai have always come from Japan.
That's not to say that antique Chinese pots are frowned upon-- far from
it, as they are much sought after heirlooms nowadays. Without a doubt the
finest pots built these days are from the Tokoname kilns in Japan. Many,
many fine old trees in the National Bonsai & Penjing Collection in
Washington, D.C. are Tokoname-ware.
There are several artists outside of Japan whose work with bonsai pottery
has merited attention as well-- most notably Gordon Duffet of the UK, who
makes fabulous pots with rustic textures and delightful color blends.
My mission is two-fold in that, in addition to educating myself about
ceramics in general, I hope to locate businesses which deal in fine bonsai
containers (We call them 'one-offs') as well as less expensive mass
produced containers for less meritorious trees. Any help, in terms of
texts I could read, people I could write, or businesses I could visit
would be greatly appreciated.
As well, should anyone wish to engage in a dialogue concerning aesthetics
of containers and how it relates to the art of bonsai, I would be happy to
do so. Thanks for your time!
Sincerely,
David Bockman
Shinden Bonsai
Man's greatest achievments occur when he neither speaks nor thinks.
Timothy Dean Malm on tue 8 oct 96
Greetings from Seattle:
I took special notice of your message, not because of its particular
subject matter but rather your reference to Tokoname. I know there are
several (well, at least two) "clayarters" who have participated in the
ceramics workshop at Tokoname. Though we did not orient ourselves toward
the creation of bonsai trays/planters, I for one saw a lot of them there.
Tim Malm
Washington Potters Assoc. Pres. '96
On Mon, 7 Oct 1996, Flex123 wrote:
> ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> My name is Dave Bockman, and I'm a bonsai artist and grower (meaning that
> I propogate plant material specifically for bonsai) who is on a mission: I
> want to find out all I can about pottery as it relates to bonsai.
>
> Traditionally, the finer pots for bonsai have always come from Japan.
> That's not to say that antique Chinese pots are frowned upon-- far from
> it, as they are much sought after heirlooms nowadays. Without a doubt the
> finest pots built these days are from the Tokoname kilns in Japan. Many,
> many fine old trees in the National Bonsai & Penjing Collection in
> Washington, D.C. are Tokoname-ware.
>
> There are several artists outside of Japan whose work with bonsai pottery
> has merited attention as well-- most notably Gordon Duffet of the UK, who
> makes fabulous pots with rustic textures and delightful color blends.
>
> My mission is two-fold in that, in addition to educating myself about
> ceramics in general, I hope to locate businesses which deal in fine bonsai
> containers (We call them 'one-offs') as well as less expensive mass
> produced containers for less meritorious trees. Any help, in terms of
> texts I could read, people I could write, or businesses I could visit
> would be greatly appreciated.
>
> As well, should anyone wish to engage in a dialogue concerning aesthetics
> of containers and how it relates to the art of bonsai, I would be happy to
> do so. Thanks for your time!
>
> Sincerely,
>
> David Bockman
> Shinden Bonsai
> Man's greatest achievments occur when he neither speaks nor thinks.
>
Chance_Bob/furman@furman.edu on wed 9 oct 96
Tom Dimig is a potter in Columbia, South Carolina that makes Bonsai pots
and also grows Bonsai. He has developed a line of pottery specifically
for these plants. I have seen a few of his works and they have a
wonderful, quiet strenth about them yet not so much as to overpower the
trees planted within. While not a Bonsai person, I think that is the
true test for one of these vessels. Personally, I manage to
unintentionally murder most of the plants I try to grow.
Bob Chance
http://ns9000.furman.edu/~chance/chance.html
June Perry on wed 9 oct 96
Dear Bob:
I was told the claybody for bonsai must be able to withstand harsh freezing
and thawing conditions.
I would like to give a go at making some of these containers.
Do you or anyone else on the list have a cone 10 claybody suitable for
throwing that would be appropriate for bonsai planters that you could share?
Thanks !
June
jzemba@uwcmail.uwc.edu on wed 9 oct 96
June
The pots for bonasi can be made of ^8-10 clay. I use one as follows:
gold art 63
om 4 14
custer spar 5
grog medium 5
fire clay 14
fe2o3 1% this amount can be increased for darker body.
The pots are glazed on the outside only. There are also some that are
unglazed , usuallyin a deep red iron rich body. Try to find a copy of
Bonsai today. Issues 44 and 45 both have articles about pot makers. also
lots of picturs of pots for sale by dealers.(imports) Try you local
library for book on bonsai.
jzemba@uwc.edu
June Perry on thu 10 oct 96
Thanks James. It seems from the recipe you show that you could probably use
any cone 10 stoneware for the bonsai planters.
I didn't know there was a Bonsai magazine. Do you happen to have an address
or phone number for it. I would love to get those issues you mentioned, on
the bonsai potters.
Thanks again,
June
Corinne Null on sun 13 oct 96
Why unglazed on the inside? I know this is true for all plant pots, not
just bonsai, and I do not understand why? I seem to be able to grow plants
just fine in pots with glazed interiors. Anybody else ignore the rules with
success? What's the thinking behind it?
>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> The pots are glazed on the outside only. There are also some that are
> unglazed
Corinne Null
Bedford, NH
cnull@mv.mv.com
Don Sanami on sun 13 oct 96
Dear Corrinne, wwe have always made pots for plants unglazed on both
inside and out....at most we have used glaze sparingly on the outside.
Our feeling has always been that completly glazed plantpots do not allow
the plants to "breath". Also,we have noticed that there can be
considerable mineral buildup on the outside of unglazed hanging planters.
We consider this of valuable.Kinoko On Sun, 13 Oct 1996,
Corinne Null wrote:
> ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> Why unglazed on the inside? I know this is true for all plant pots, not
> just bonsai, and I do not understand why? I seem to be able to grow plants
> just fine in pots with glazed interiors. Anybody else ignore the rules with
> success? What's the thinking behind it?
>
>
> >----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> > The pots are glazed on the outside only. There are also some that are
> > unglazed
> Corinne Null
> Bedford, NH
>
> cnull@mv.mv.com
>
Cheryl Shoemaker on tue 15 oct 96
>Why unglazed on the inside? I know this is true for all plant pots, not
>just bonsai... What's the thinking behind it?
When plant roots run into a slick surface such as a glazed interior as they
are growing they will simply glide along it or turn inwards. Left in this
condition for long you end up with a not so great root system. If the roots
run into an unglazed surface they will stay put, sometimes grab onto it and
have to be cut a bit upon transplanting but this is supposedly a far
healthier root system than one that has been continuously diverted. That
info from a horticulturist friend who I asked that very question years ago.
Cheryl Shoemaker
SC
claystuff on wed 19 oct 05
I am very interested in creating pottery for bonsai plants. My husband is
an avid collector of bonsai. Does anyone on the list have ideas or
suggestions for the proper dimensions, hole sizes, etc, that are necessary
to create a proper bonsai pot? I am looking into websites on bonsai and
already have some ideas. I would appreciate any help I can get! Thanks.
Debby at
claystuff@comcast.net
www.greatpottery.com
Rog Coman on wed 19 oct 05
Hi Debby,
I remember just a few years back, Ceramics Monthly or Clay Times had a good
article on building bonsai pots. You might try their archives to see if you
can find it.
Best,
Rog Coman
Fish Hook Pottery
Montrose, CO
----- Original Message -----
From: "claystuff"
To:
Sent: Wednesday, October 19, 2005 9:58 AM
Subject: bonsai pottery
> I am very interested in creating pottery for bonsai plants. My husband is
> an avid collector of bonsai. Does anyone on the list have ideas or
> suggestions for the proper dimensions, hole sizes, etc, that are necessary
> to create a proper bonsai pot? I am looking into websites on bonsai and
> already have some ideas. I would appreciate any help I can get! Thanks.
>
> Debby at
> claystuff@comcast.net
>
> www.greatpottery.com
>
>
____________________________________________________________________________
__
> Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
>
> You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
> settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
>
> Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at
melpots@pclink.com.
>
Les on wed 19 oct 05
Debby -
There's lots of information on "the net". Just type in Bonsai Bowls.
Les.
lcrimp@shaw.ca
----- Original Message -----
From: "claystuff"
To:
Sent: Wednesday, October 19, 2005 8:58 AM
Subject: bonsai pottery
>I am very interested in creating pottery for bonsai plants. My husband is
> an avid collector of bonsai. Does anyone on the list have ideas or
> suggestions for the proper dimensions, hole sizes, etc, that are necessary
> to create a proper bonsai pot? I am looking into websites on bonsai and
> already have some ideas. I would appreciate any help I can get! Thanks.
>
> Debby at
> claystuff@comcast.net
>
> www.greatpottery.com
>
> ______________________________________________________________________________
> Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
>
> You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
> settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
>
> Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at
> melpots@pclink.com.
>
Millard Balfrery on wed 19 oct 05
Debbie,
I have been into bonsai since the late 70s, joined South Palm Bonsai club in
WPB in 1980. My entire pottery production is geared towards creating bonsai
containers. I extrude up to 9", throw, and slab all sorts of bonsai containers
up to 40"x 30". Be very carefull as it is addictive.
There is a balance to find the right pot for a tree- a harmony between the
tree and pot on color, texture, shape, ratio.
Generally trees are considered masculine or feminine, a tree that has strong
rootage, trunk, and branching is considered masculine would be best planted in
a strong looking pot---- a gracefull curving tree is best planted in a
smaller curved pot.
The depth of the pot should be close to the diameter of the trunk at ground
level. The width of the pot should be approx 2/3 of the width of the branches.
The pot should not oveerpower the tree, it should be like framing a painting.
The tree should be planted off center one way or another. I prefer unglazed
earth tone clay bodies. I have been hung up on Miami Clay #10 speckled grey, #12
brown, and #15 black- doing single high firings. #14 raku body rakued in
copper matt or white crackle is killer.
Slow drying under cloth covered plywood w/ weight helps prevent warpage- it's
a learning expierience
Spent the evening packing up my outdoor 'studio' into the solid poured 4"
concrete electric kiln shed- took the seat, head, and bowl off the Randall wheel,
took the handwheel off the Northstar super 30 and put timbers on each side of
the rollers on the table as the weather guesser says that the eye of Wilma
will come across Palm Beach County sometime Saturday w/ catagory 2 or three
winds. Some of my finished plants will come inside the house ,the rest will go
under the benches. I will pray for the best but prepare for the worst- can't
depend on the government to do anything in a timely fashion!
Hope some of this helps, if you have interlibrary loan access at your local
libary request "Bonsai Techniques,2 by John Naka, it explains the relationship
betweenn pot and tree in depth- I took two of his workshops in the early
80s, he was a very learned man.
Regards, Mill
steve graber on wed 19 oct 05
the bonsai books are pretty good on proportional dimensions. one to add to your collection is by peter adams, "the bonsai maple" or some such title. good pictures & focuses on just maple trees.
yahoo-groups has a few bonsai groups with tons of photos for ideas. try:
bonsaikai
and
bonsaiphotogallery
for hole sizes i'd talk with a good nursery or judge yourself. if your climate is humid or dry you'd do best to size for your own area. that's an advantage you'd have making your own pots for bonsai.
add to your list the idea of making your own "rocks" for bonsai in rock displays. i made several items testing a sawdust blended in clay thru the pug mill. it produces a coarse texture (with rough pine pet bedding material) which helps me make good looking fake rocks. i don't see why using grass clippings & leaves wouldn't also yield interesting results for bonsai pots & rocks.
fine sawdust blended with clay doesn't leave the rough texture but helps overall in making pots that are not too heavy. that helps in moving the trees around later.... get carried away with blending saw dust & you'll make your own lava rock pots.
see ya
steve
claystuff wrote: I am very interested in creating pottery for bonsai plants. My husband is
an avid collector of bonsai. Does anyone on the list have ideas or
suggestions for the proper dimensions, hole sizes, etc, that are necessary
to create a proper bonsai pot? I am looking into websites on bonsai and
already have some ideas. I would appreciate any help I can get! Thanks.
Debby at
claystuff@comcast.net
www.greatpottery.com
______________________________________________________________________________
Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at melpots@pclink.com.
---------------------------------
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Linda Ferzoco on wed 19 oct 05
Speaking as a bonsai nut, and mind you I wouldn't do this for just
anyone, here are some useful links.
This is a great site for classical bonsai pots: sizes, colors, etc.
Your husband will know about Tokoname pots; they're wonderful and
pricey. There is a page that gives dimensions of classical pots, and
that's great, but most modern potters don't follow those rigidly.
http://www.tokoname.or.jp/bonsai/
He probably also knows about Sara Rayner's pots. I saw some new
styles of her pots at a show recently here in California.
http://www.redwing.net/~daalms/
If you and your husband are ever in the SF Bay area, email me and
I'll give you a personal tour of the Golden State Bonsai Federation's
Collection North display in Oakland. Best west of DC.
Cheers, Linda
--- claystuff wrote:
> I am very interested in creating pottery for bonsai plants. My
> husband is
> an avid collector of bonsai. Does anyone on the list have ideas or
> suggestions for the proper dimensions, hole sizes, etc, that are
> necessary
> to create a proper bonsai pot? I am looking into websites on
> bonsai and
> already have some ideas. I would appreciate any help I can get!
> Thanks.
>
> Debby at
> claystuff@comcast.net
>
> www.greatpottery.com
>
>
______________________________________________________________________________
> Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
>
> You may look at the archives for the list or change your
> subscription
> settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
>
> Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at
> melpots@pclink.com.
>
Mark Issenberg on thu 20 oct 05
Howdy all,, Ive been making planters for a while , 40 years,, Anyway, Ive
been stacking them up as soon as they come out of the kiln . I want to get a
digital and photos of them for my website.. One of these days.. BUT as planters
dont only think of Bonsai , think of people that grow Cactus and Succulents..
If you happen to be California and have the opportunity to see a Cactus show
you wont believe how cool the plants look. I was a Judge of C &S and had
actually flown to California to judge a National Show..
Think of Adenium Obesums or Desert Rose as Bonsai. The root is elevated and
has a great trunk, also flowers , some of mine are flowering now. If you like
that try Pachypodiums,, they are related.
Check out the _www.cactus-mall.com_ (http://www.cactus-mall.com) there is
gobs of info for Cactus and Succulents and also _www.oldmancactus.com_
(http://www.oldmancactus.com) .. He buys my planters and is always looking for good
stuff to sell.
As far as holes, ive allways hated the 2 big holes that you have to wire
with screen so i use a drill and drill lots of holes, great drainage,, always
have trimmed or added feet for elevation for air circulation and drainage
Just my $.02
Mark
_www.lookoutmountainpottery.com_ (http://www.lookoutmountainpottery.com)
Lee Love on thu 20 oct 05
claystuff wrote:
>I am looking into websites on bonsai and already have some ideas.
>I would appreciate any help I can get! Thanks.
check these out:
http://hankos.blogspot.com/2005/03/bonsai-pots.html
http://hankos.blogspot.com/2005/03/shapes-and-measurements-for-bonsai.html
http://hankos.blogspot.com/2005/03/japanese-pots-traditionally-use.html
These are all found here with other bookmarks :
http://hankos.blogspot.com/2005_03_01_hankos_archive.html
--
Lee Love
in Mashiko, Japan http://mashiko.org
http://seisokuro.blogspot.com/ My Photo Logs
"To the ambitious for whom neither the bounty of life nor the beauty of
the world suffice to content, it comes as penance that life with them
is squandered and that they posses neither the benefits nor the beauty
of the world. And if they are unable to perceive what is divine in
Nature which is all around them, how will they be able to see their own
divinity, which is sometimes hidden."
- Leonardo
Da Vinci
muchimi@potteryofjapan.com on thu 20 oct 05
Whoops! Yep, thats Sarah Raynor, not Cathy Shaner as I put in my last
post. Getting my potters mixed up with my treeers.
Sorry,
Mike
= == = == = == = == = == =
Michael Martino
in Taku, Japan
karatsupots.blogspot.com
www.potteryofjapan.com
= == = == = == = == = == =
Linda Ferzoco wrote:
>Speaking as a bonsai nut, and mind you I wouldn't do this for just
>anyone, here are some useful links.
>
>This is a great site for classical bonsai pots: sizes, colors, etc.
>Your husband will know about Tokoname pots; they're wonderful and
>pricey. There is a page that gives dimensions of classical pots, and
>that's great, but most modern potters don't follow those rigidly.
>
>
>http://www.tokoname.or.jp/bonsai/
>
>He probably also knows about Sara Rayner's pots. I saw some new
>styles of her pots at a show recently here in California.
>
>http://www.redwing.net/~daalms/
>
>If you and your husband are ever in the SF Bay area, email me and
>I'll give you a personal tour of the Golden State Bonsai Federation's
>Collection North display in Oakland. Best west of DC.
>
>Cheers, Linda
>
>--- claystuff wrote:
>
>
>
>>I am very interested in creating pottery for bonsai plants. My
>>husband is
>>an avid collector of bonsai. Does anyone on the list have ideas or
>>suggestions for the proper dimensions, hole sizes, etc, that are
>>necessary
>>to create a proper bonsai pot? I am looking into websites on
>>bonsai and
>>already have some ideas. I would appreciate any help I can get!
>>Thanks.
>>
>>Debby at
>>claystuff@comcast.net
>>
>>www.greatpottery.com
>>
>>
>>
>>
>______________________________________________________________________________
>
>
>>Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
>>
>>You may look at the archives for the list or change your
>>subscription
>>settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
>>
>>Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at
>>melpots@pclink.com.
>>
>>
>>
>
>______________________________________________________________________________
>Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
>
>You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
>settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
>
>Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at melpots@pclink.com.
>
>
>
>
muchimi@potteryofjapan.com on thu 20 oct 05
Ok, I could be opening up a can of worms here, but when you look for
info on bonsai and related pots, your best sources might be non-north
american. At least in the US, with a few exceptions, bonsai is in it's
infancy. Italy, Taiwan, Singapore, China, and Japan are all much farther
along.
In the US, for pots, do searches for Cathy Shaner (well known for her
pots), Dale Cochoy (a clayarter), and Michael Hagedorn (my personal
favorite American bonsai pot artist)
For really good bonsai in the US, check out Bay Island Bonsai (Boon
Manikativipart sp?), Kenji Miyata (via New England Bonsai). Kenji will
be opening his studio in Fresno, Ca. soon, and he really knows his
stuff. Also, on the east coast, Nick Lenz has some very nice, if not
traditional bonsai.
I'm not really up to date with everyone, so I'm sure I'm leaving many
deserving folks out of my must see lists.
Browse through the following site for a step by step guide to a
traditional Japanese method of pot making:
http://www.ryuen.com/sub-e001.htm
Selecting a pot for a tree is very difficult even if you don't adhere to
traditional rules. Some rules of thumb are:
1. Pines and Junipers go in unglazed pots, deciduous can go in glazed pots.
2. Formal and informal uprights look best in rectangles.
3. Literati go well with round or oval.
4. Cascade and semi-casc go in deeper pots.
Most pots for bonsai do not curve in at the lip, because it makes
repotting difficult.
The bottom of the pot must not sag or rise because it screws up drainage.
The profile of the pot should be flat, not curving (with exceptions).
Pots should usually have feet to raise them for proper airflow under the
pot, and so that the wires holding your hole screen don't cause the pot
to wobble.
For larger pots, firing on the rims helps prevent warping.
Hope this helps,
Mike
= == = == = == = == = == =
Michael Martino
in Taku, Japan
karatsupots.blogspot.com
www.potteryofjapan.com
= == = == = == = == = == =
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