AusBonsai

2011 Japan Shohin Bonsai Association Auction catalogue

http://samedge.wordpress.com/2011/11/05/1583/

Thanks Jow, I definitely am drooling. Are they the prices in red on some of the photos? Not sure how much they translate to.

David

You beat me to it!

Some nice pots in the back of the catalogue.

I tried to upload it but the file is too big.

DavidN wrote:Thanks Jow, I definitely am drooling. Are they the prices in red on some of the photos? Not sure how much they translate to.

David

Yeah they are prices in Red, or suggested prices as it is an Auction.

万円　means 10,000 yen.

so 50万円 is 500,000 yen

500,000yen as of today is worth $6,151.59 AUD.

There are some very nice pots for sale as well as the trees but a little out of my price range. Always nice to look and dream though.

Thanks Jow, I could get hooked on pots alone. If the Auction were held in Australia i doubt any of those prices would be realised.

Jow wrote:500,000yen as of today is worth $6,151.59 AUD

, Culturally, i do not think we have evolved enough in our Bonsai to pay six grand for a pot. Wish i could though.

Agreed i think it would be difficult to find buyers at those levels in this country.

The first green pot on the pot page is valued between $14,763.91 and $15,992.53. Its interesting to think that shohin bonsai in japan are often shown in group displays of 5 or so. When you add up the cost of 5 high level trees, in 5 high level pots on 5 high level stands placed in one high level tiered display stand the price really must begin to add up.

Just potting one of the 150万円 trees in the 130万円 pot adds up to over $34,454AUD and thats before buying a display stand.

I think we are a few hundred years of the mark yet, if ever. We do not see the Bonsai Art form the way the Japanese do. To their culture a two hundred year old pot and tree is the same as investing in a Picasso. I cant move a 60 year old Elm in a two hundred dollar pot for 750 dollars.

bodhidharma wrote:I think we are a few hundred years of the mark yet, if ever. We do not see the Bonsai Art form the way the Japanese do. To their culture a two hundred year old pot and tree is the same as investing in a Picasso...

Agreed, until Bonsai becomes a status symbol for the rich, Australia will not see such prices.

The benefit I see, is that there may be some old high quality pots laying around that were imported long before Shohin was cool ?