Mike423

I always wondered why the higher end Japanese (Tokoname) pots where more expensive than their Chinese (Yixing) counterparts. I was told Yixing pots (not Zisha pots) are pre-molded on the inside and then hand carved on the outside, while Tokoname pots are the opposite being pre-molded on the outside having their inside hand carved. Is this true, or was I misinformed? And if it is true why are more people interested in the japanese pots and why are they more costly? Do they have better moisture etc.. retentive quality, are the clays used harder to acquire etc...?

JLDoggett

I believe some of it is due to the import duty. A client of mine just returned from Japan and brought me 6 pots that cost about the same as one would cost here in the States. I could not fathom why...

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Mike423

Maybe it has to do with the fact that most seem to associate Bonsai with the Japanese culture (even though it was practiced in China for centuries beforehand)?? I lean more to the Chinese Pots myself as from what I was told (and mentioned above) they seem to be better made as well as lower in price, having no real difference from their Japanese counterparts.

centaura

Most Chinese pots are formed in molds, and are made with relatively inexpensive clays, cheaper glazes, and are more often than not low-fired (which makes them less cold tolerant). They are mass produced which helps keep their costs down. The Japanese tokaname pots are more often hand made with better quality clays, high fired, as well as being made in the premier pottery region of Japan - prestige in and of itself adds into the price. Another is cost of living/expense differences between Japan and China - like its cheaper to have shirts made in the Philipines than in the US, labor/etc. costs are much cheaper in China than in Japan. Now, that's not to say that there aren't good pots being made in China, or cheap pots being made in Japan - its just in general the pots coming out of Japan are of a higher quality, and have a higher chance of being high-fired. Resale value is also going to be much higher on the Japanese pots than the newer Chinese pots - I say newer since antique Chinese pots will fetch a nice price and are of a different order than mass-produced modern Chinese pots.

I like a lot of the glazes that are used in Chinese pots, but you have to be a bit careful of their insides. Since they are form made, and not inspected on a pot by pot basis, they are often concave on the bottom - which means that there are parts of the bottom that don't drain out. They can flake and break easily in the winter, if the soil on the inside freezes and thaws rapidly or if a crack develops in the glaze or pot and gets wet before a freeze. I will use them as pots for tropicals, for a nice training pot or when I can't afford a nice pot for a larger tree.

I really like some of the pots that are being made in the states - Sara Raynor, Ron Lang, and the potter I never remember the name of in NC being some good examples.

-Centaura

boger

In my experience it does not matter where the pots come from as all are high fired in the kilns to make them completely frost proof. The thing to go for is the size, shape. colour and design that suits the tree , that after all is the primary objective.