Deborah Koreshoff

Seen something in print or on TV? Have a good book to review? Know something others don't? Post here.
User avatar
lindsay farr
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 331
Joined: June 24th, 2009, 9:43 am
Favorite Species: maple
Bonsai Age: 57
Location: melbourne
Contact:

Deborah Koreshoff

Post by lindsay farr »

Deborah Koreshoff is unrivaled as the most influentual Australian bonsai communicator. Her iconic book continues to inform and inspire bonsai people globally.

The amazing thing is that she completed this work at a youthful age.

I understand that She then chose to seek other interests.

Please post any insights or information about this enigmatic figure.

Cheers
Lindsay
http://www.bonsaifarm.tv/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
User avatar
MelaQuin
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 1340
Joined: November 7th, 2008, 2:16 pm
Favorite Species: olives & natives
Bonsai Age: 20
Bonsai Club: Illawarra Bonsai Society, Bonsai Society of A
Location: St George Area, Sydney Australia
Been thanked: 1 time

Re: Deborah Koreshoff

Post by MelaQuin »

In late January 2008 she sold all her trees, gave up bonsai after being heavily involved since the age of 7 and went to artistic pursuits that did not require watering or styling. It is a great loss to the bonsai community but Deborah is shy and did not like to be centre stage or put herself forward. It is a pity as she had her parent's magic in her hands.

A couple of months ago I received a request from an international enthusiast for her contact details and he was advised that 'she was out of bonsai and not responding to queries'.
Last edited by MelaQuin on August 4th, 2009, 5:53 pm, edited 1 time in total.
User avatar
Pup
Knowledgeable rogue
Knowledgeable rogue
Posts: 6357
Joined: November 12th, 2008, 5:19 pm
Favorite Species: melaleucas
Bonsai Age: 31
Bonsai Club: Bonsai society of Western Australia
Location: Southern Suburbs of Perth Western Australia
Been thanked: 35 times
Contact:

Re: Deborah Koreshoff

Post by Pup »

In 1992 Sue and I went on holiday to the Land of the long White cloud.
On our way we stayed in Sydney for 5 days needless to say we called at Koreshoff's nursery along with some others. We had just bought a video camera.
While at the nursery talking to Dot, Deborah came out to water her trees. I politely asked if we could take some shots.
She said yes , but please not down the back. I asked why her reply was I am like most people lazy at times, and the trees do not get the care they should. Obviously I did not go there. I got some wonderful shots and some good video footage.
Now for the most devastating thing to happen to me in my Bonsai journey.I did not remove the tabs on the recorded Video.
Yes you have guessed it. I lent it to a mate and one of his Children recorded over it. I have never forgiven that child to this day ;)
So another peice of history lost. :cry: Pup
IN THE LIGHT OF KNOWLEDGE ATTAINED, ACHIEVEMENT IS WITHIN SIGHT

I am not a complete fool, some parts are missing
User avatar
Chris H
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 399
Joined: August 21st, 2009, 10:15 pm
Favorite Species: All of them.
Bonsai Age: 15
Bonsai Club: School of bonsai
Location: Sydney
Contact:

Re: Deborah Koreshoff

Post by Chris H »

I used to live around the corner from the nursery and I studied at one of Dots many courses when I thought it might be fun to learn about bonsai.
As a result I spent many hours wandering around the collection until I moved away.
It was a magical place, the birds in the trees and no sound of the city which was so closeby. I used to go and meditate as I looked at her collection. (and then spend a fortune on trees and pottin mix)
Deborahs collection was always locked away but one day she was there and I was so overtly standing at the gate she "invited" me in. I have to say her style was something I have not seen since.
If her trees have been sold, I hope the collector is up to the task.
Aikido keeps me rolling; Bonsai keeps me still.
User avatar
bodhidharma
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 5007
Joined: August 13th, 2009, 1:14 pm
Favorite Species: English Elm
Bonsai Age: 24
Bonsai Club: goldfields
Location: Daylesford, Victoria....Central Highlands
Been thanked: 10 times
Contact:

Re: Deborah Koreshoff

Post by bodhidharma »

I made the trip to Sydney for the auction of Deborahs and her husbands trees. I had visited before and was absolutely floored when she gave me permission to view Dorothy and Vittos trees. She is a gentle soul and, unfortunately i did not get a look in at the auction. The prices that they were selling for was out of my league at the time. She did make the statement before the auction, That the trees bought at this auction will no longer be connected with her, and her name should not be associated with them once they are purchased. Which makes a lot of sense but it would still be difficult to disassociate her connection with the tree.
"Advice is rarely welcome, and the one's who need it the most welcome it the least"
User avatar
Bretts
Bonsai Philosopher
Bonsai Philosopher
Posts: 6670
Joined: November 14th, 2008, 11:04 pm
Favorite Species: carpinus jbp
Bonsai Age: 12
Location: Jervis Bay NSW
Has thanked: 1 time
Contact:

Re: Deborah Koreshoff

Post by Bretts »

I attended this Auction as well but as I was not yet confident with my ability to care for a tree of this value I did not buy one. I was hoping for one of the cheaper ones $200-$300 but the funny thing was this price range went much higher often close to $1000 for the shohin. The larger more expensive ones starting from $1000 to start with got passed in?
This was the first time I met Deborah and I was quite infatuated with her :) Got my book signed. That was an event it took her 5 minutes to get her arm and had in a comfortable position with some newspaper so she was sure of making a good job of it. She must be a perfectionist :)
Because of the clause that stated purchased trees call not be called Koreshoff trees any more I thought I would call mine. The tree formally known as a Koreshoff :lol:
Not sure how they would have liked that though.
I would love to see one of the trees sold. Anyone able to post some pictures. It seems very hard to work around this clause? I know many are concerned of theft but I would think at least someone was in a comfortable position to show one off?
It's too bad your in such a hurry cause the stories I could tell you, Bushels and baskets of stories, hole crates full of stories. But if you can spare a moment I will tell you one story.
User avatar
bodhidharma
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 5007
Joined: August 13th, 2009, 1:14 pm
Favorite Species: English Elm
Bonsai Age: 24
Bonsai Club: goldfields
Location: Daylesford, Victoria....Central Highlands
Been thanked: 10 times
Contact:

Re: Deborah Koreshoff

Post by bodhidharma »

We were so close Bretts. I specifically went to purchase a firethorn but got blown out of the water when it went over my budget. I was willing to go to 750 but it went for 1350?. Oh well i will keep looking in gardens and be cheeky
"Advice is rarely welcome, and the one's who need it the most welcome it the least"
User avatar
Pup
Knowledgeable rogue
Knowledgeable rogue
Posts: 6357
Joined: November 12th, 2008, 5:19 pm
Favorite Species: melaleucas
Bonsai Age: 31
Bonsai Club: Bonsai society of Western Australia
Location: Southern Suburbs of Perth Western Australia
Been thanked: 35 times
Contact:

Re: Deborah Koreshoff

Post by Pup »

Bretts wrote:I attended this Auction as well but as I was not yet confident with my ability to care for a tree of this value I did not buy one. I was hoping for one of the cheaper ones $200-$300 but the funny thing was this price range went much higher often close to $1000 for the shohin. The larger more expensive ones starting from $1000 to start with got passed in?
This was the first time I met Deborah and I was quite infatuated with her :) Got my book signed. That was an event it took her 5 minutes to get her arm and had in a comfortable position with some newspaper so she was sure of making a good job of it. She must be a perfectionist :)
Because of the clause that stated purchased trees call not be called Koreshoff trees any more I thought I would call mine. The tree formally known as a Koreshoff :lol:
Not sure how they would have liked that though.
I would love to see one of the trees sold. Anyone able to post some pictures. It seems very hard to work around this clause? I know many are concerned of theft but I would think at least someone was in a comfortable position to show one off?
If you went to the collection you will have noticed a certain tree there formally, known as K#~*#^)"" tree it was bought on behalf of the collection so I am told. ;)
IN THE LIGHT OF KNOWLEDGE ATTAINED, ACHIEVEMENT IS WITHIN SIGHT

I am not a complete fool, some parts are missing
User avatar
Bretts
Bonsai Philosopher
Bonsai Philosopher
Posts: 6670
Joined: November 14th, 2008, 11:04 pm
Favorite Species: carpinus jbp
Bonsai Age: 12
Location: Jervis Bay NSW
Has thanked: 1 time
Contact:

Re: Deborah Koreshoff

Post by Bretts »

Ah yes I should have mentioned that one thanks Pup :)
It's too bad your in such a hurry cause the stories I could tell you, Bushels and baskets of stories, hole crates full of stories. But if you can spare a moment I will tell you one story.
User avatar
kcpoole
Perpetual Learner
Perpetual Learner
Posts: 12272
Joined: November 12th, 2008, 4:02 pm
Favorite Species: Maple
Bonsai Age: 15
Bonsai Club: the School Of Bonsai
Location: Western Sydney, NSW, Australia
Has thanked: 17 times
Been thanked: 84 times
Contact:

Re: Deborah Koreshoff

Post by kcpoole »

I bought some pines from the nursery whn closing down. Not styled at all as they were feild grown stock trees, but at least they are from there :-)
Ken
Last edited by kcpoole on August 27th, 2009, 5:50 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Check out our Wiki for awesome bonsai information www.ausbonsai.com.au/wiki
What is Bonsai? http://www.ausbonsai.com.au/wiki/index.php?title=Bonsai
What should I do now? http://www.ausbonsai.com.au/wiki/index.php?title=Newbie
How do I grow a Bonsai? http://www.ausbonsai.com.au/wiki/index. ... _a_Bonsai?
Visit a Bonsai nursery to see some real nice trees http://www.ausbonsai.com.au/wiki/index. ... _Nurseries
User avatar
luciano benyakob
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 206
Joined: November 28th, 2009, 1:28 am
Favorite Species: Casuarina
Bonsai Age: 20
Bonsai Club: Sbbonsai-Brazil
Location: Brazil
Contact:

Re: Deborah Koreshoff

Post by luciano benyakob »

Hi all!!!
Im from Brazil and i have the book of Deborah Koreshof ,its fantastic.
http://bonsaistudio.forumvila.com/index.php
http://www.facebook.com/luciano.benyakob?ref=name
Last edited by luciano benyakob on November 28th, 2009, 2:05 am, edited 1 time in total.
Shalom.
Jonden
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 134
Joined: September 4th, 2009, 8:59 am
Favorite Species: All
Bonsai Age: 45
Bonsai Club: Nepean bonsai Society Inc. Bonsai Society of Australia Inc. National
Location: Blue Mountains NSW

Re: Deborah Koreshoff

Post by Jonden »

I was very privileged to have been taught by Deborah, I considered that in the first 8 years of playing around with bonsai and learning from books etc. was very confusing, lots of sticks in pots and lots of failed trees. then this wonderful
revelation of the true art of Bonsai when Deborah started to explain in her quiet precise method of teaching and all was revealed and I suddenly understood what it was all about.
I still have all my notes and her sketches from these lessons and still refer to them for guidance when necessary.
I continued on to teach these same classes at Koreshoffs some years later under the guidance of Dorothy Koreshoff.
I spent many hours at the nursery and I am so grateful for all that I learnt under their guidance, and also to be able to pass on some of this privileged knowledge to other bonsai people.
Cheers, Jonden
User avatar
Espresso
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 87
Joined: May 5th, 2009, 1:29 pm
Favorite Species: Juniper
Bonsai Age: 20
Location: Northern Suburbs of Sydney

Re: Deborah Koreshoff

Post by Espresso »

I am lucky enough to own a 1981 Procumbens Juniper that i bought from them in 1995, i remember the tag on it then had the date the tree was designed and also the date it was last root pruned. Needless to say that it was quite a few years since its last root prune and i neglected to root prune for about another 8 years after that....The tree is trying to come back to its original glory.

Grant
User avatar
Webos
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 1206
Joined: July 15th, 2009, 12:05 pm
Favorite Species: Juniper
Bonsai Age: 0
Bonsai Club: Southern Vic Bonsai Club
Location: Southern Vic

Re: Deborah Koreshoff

Post by Webos »

Why dont you put up a photo Espresso?
leafshape80
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 3
Joined: July 17th, 2010, 11:49 pm
Favorite Species: Pines
Bonsai Age: 21
Bonsai Club: Illawarra Bonsai Society
Location: Sydney

Re: Deborah Koreshoff

Post by leafshape80 »

I still refer to Deborah's book, even though it over 20 years old. I bought my copy in 1989. The information is still relevant where the narrative is timeless. Roger
Post Reply

Return to “Bonsai in the Media & History of Australian Bonsai”