Anyone collecting Shoseki pots?

[vp999]

I've always love Tokoname painted bonsai pots and recently became obsessed with Shoseki pots and thinking about collecting them, do you think it's a good idea investment wise? If anyone here collecting Shoseki pots or have some that wants to part with please let me know. Thanks in advance!

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

The painting quality of the first generation Yuuki pots is excellent. I haven’t seen the value of them jump quite like the Gekkou pots over the last 10 years. Shoseki pots may have doubled where Gekkou have 3-5x during the same time. Who knows what that looks like in another 10.10 years ago, Nakawatari pots were double what they are now.

Regardless, I don’t consider collecting pots as an actual investment because the market is tiny and the popularity ebbs and flows. I have seen too many collections being dispersed by disinterested family members who have no idea what the pots are worth. Most of the time the pots are not special, but sometimes a gem will be among them that spiked at some point.

So if you become a collector, be sure to keep good records: a photo of the listing/auction showing the pot, maker, price paid and date. That way your family will have some provenance and basis.

 

[rockm]

I like Western pots and a few Japanese makers. I have a few pots from many potters. Some have tripled in value over the last 30 years, others, meh, not so much.

Buy what you like, but don't fool yourself into thinking you're going to get your money back or more at some point. Keeping provenance written down somewhere is a great idea. And FWIW, pots are mostly NOT heirlooms handed down through the family (although many wind up in a box in the garage attic until they're found and unloaded for a few bucks at a yard sale). Regardless of their value, to sell them after you die is a pain in the ass for your family for the most part.

 

[vp999]

Thanks for the input guys! I am into them more because I like looking at painted pots being displayed more than anything, I just want to make sure I dont grossly overpaid for them if they're not really collectible at all.

 

[rockm]

Thanks for the input guys! I am into them more because I like looking at painted pots being displayed more than anything, I just want to make sure I dont grossly overpaid for them if they're not really collectible at all.

Ha! Define "grossly" overpaying. of course don't get ripped off (and know your sources well), but once you know enough to know what you've got, you've become smart enough to get into a lot of trouble.

 

[vp999]

I had 3 came in from Japan today and 12 more coming in tomorrow l, will share some pics when I have a decent amount lol

 

[shinmai]

Strongly agree with Brian—don’t think in terms of investment value or appreciation in price. You may see one of Ishida’s painted pots listed for $700, but you’d be lucky to get half that selling to a dealer. [a lesson I learned long ago with vintage guitars and dobros]
I have seven of Yuki’s pots in my “collection”, and three of Ishida’s unpainted pots. Ishida made glazed but unpainted pots between 1970 and 1974, before she took up an apprenticeship to learn to paint them. This is one of them. Its exterior dimensions are 1.75” in diameter and .75” deep. Of all the pots I own, it’s my favorite, with the possible exception of an 8” Shuho round that’s probably in the vicinity of a hundred years old.



This is one of Yuki’s pots with a shohin satsuki as I was prepping it for our annual exhibition in June.


Two things I’ve learned chasing her pots:
First, on eBay you may see an identical photo shown by three or four sellers in Japan. Each will have slightly different spins on the price—$180 plus $30 shipping, $210 plus free shipping, etc. They’re usually the same seller.
Second, study the photos carefully. There are occasional flaws in the clear over-glaze—drips, bumps, etc.—which don’t bother me too much, but some might find disappointing. And many of the Japanese sellers don’t take returns.

 

[vp999]

Thank you so much for chiming in. Since posting this thread I am up to about 20+ of Shoseki pots and several other painted pots. Will post some pics when I get them all in as most are coming from Japan and not through Ebay.

 

[shinmai]

I take it you’ve found a reliable dealer in Japan?
By the way, if you’re becoming a junkie for painted pots, God help you if you get hooked on the Mofu pots Rick Garcia is bringing in. As much as I love Yuki’s work, Mofu makes everyone else look like my granddaughter’s refrigerator art. I have one, and I almost can’t display it with my other painted pots, it shades everything else.

 

[vp999]

I take it you’ve found a reliable dealer in Japan?
By the way, if you’re becoming a junkie for painted pots, God help you if you get hooked on the Mofu pots Rick Garcia is bringing in. As much as I love Yuki’s work, Mofu makes everyone else look like my granddaughter’s refrigerator art. I have one, and I almost can’t display it with my other painted pots, it shades everything else.

I've been buying them through Jauce auction in Japan, much better pricing than Ebay but there's a lot of fees involves but overall it's still about half the price compares to eBay. I will check out Mofu pots. Thank you so much and have a great long weekend!