17x13x4 Inch Gyouzan Oval Bonsai Pot – Unglazed, Chop Marked

A large unglazed oval from the Gyouzan kiln, the maker best known for big pots. The clay is a warm, dense brown with a fine, even texture, and the form is all restraint: a softly bellied wall, a crisp rolled rim set off by a single incised line, and a low foot ring carried on four small bracket feet. It is the kind of quiet, strong container that lets a powerful tree do the talking.

At 17 by 13 inches and 4 inches deep, it has the soil volume a large tree needs to stay healthy in a refined pot. Seven drainage holes keep a big root mass from staying wet, and the unglazed clay suits conifers in particular; it is a natural home for a pine or juniper. The Gyouzan chop is stamped neatly on the base. The interior shows mineral staining and soil residue from use, and the rim has a few small marks.