AusBonsai

Many pot collectors talk about the dream of owning a 'book pot', i.e. a pot that has appeared in one of a handful of famous books documenting significant bonsai ceramics and potters.

These book pots obviously only make up a small number of collectible pots traded, so it is always interesting when one pops up for auction to see where the market is, and what sort of premium a book pot might have over a similar size, shape and style from the same potter.

I'm no professional pot appraiser, and lattice pots from Heian Kouzan aren't as common as his sharp, shallow rectangles, but if it didn't appear in a book, I'd guess this pot might sell for $1,500 - $3,000AU. Although, I wouldn't be surprised if the upper end was nearer to $5,000. Regardless, as per the picture, the final hammer price was an eye watering $17k.

Holy heck! Yeah that’s just a fraction out of my pot price playpen I hang about in. I have a couple in the high $$$ to low $$$$ and they needed serious consideration before I lashed out on those let alone 17K

I couldn't agree more Tim. I find it important to remind myself it only takes two interested parties, to whom $17k is the equivalent of you or I finding a tenner in an old pair of pants to send prices sky-high.

I suggest we all make an Australian bonsai pot book, with our collective pots, then sell the pots and retire.

17k ?

Ridiculous

$17k?

I’m in the wrong business…