American Bonsai Potters

I truly want top quality ceramics produced anywhere in the united States.

I buy a lot of Japanese collectables and ship the items to USA. It always amazes me the mark up we pay in the USA for a Japanese pot.

I am to the point where I am willing to buy Japanese pots because of quality. I am hoping in years to come we can support quality ceramics here in the USA.
 
chicago1980 said:
I truly want top quality ceramics produced anywhere in the united States.

I am hoping in years to come we can support quality ceramics here in the USA.
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There are certainly plenty here. You just have to be willing to shell out for them. Steve Ziebarth, Roy Minarai, and David Bennett come to mind as experts in their craft that currently make containers. When you pick up any one of their pots, there's an unmistakable quality that really strikes you. It's the feeling you get when you just know something will become an heirloom.

There are many more ceramicists that are eluding me right now, but you just have to poke around a little to find the good stuff.
 
thams said:
There are certainly plenty here. You just have to be willing to shell out for them. Steve Ziebarth, Roy Minarai, and David Bennett come to mind as experts in their craft that currently make containers. When you pick up any one of their pots, there's an unmistakable quality that really strikes you. It's the feeling you get when you just know something will become an heirloom.

There are many more ceramicists that are eluding me right now, but you just have to poke around a little to find the good stuff.
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I'm definitely following the website and in time will hopefully have pots from all of those folks.

@thams did you listen to the Bonsai Mirai podcast?
 
chicago1980 said:
@thams did you listen to the Bonsai Mirai podcast?
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I'm about 50 minutes in and I'm really enjoying it. The esoteric banter about containers and how they support the overall art is really interesting. I could see how it might be mundane for some, but Lang has some really insightful ideas about the evolution of bonsai composition that's got me thinking some.
 
markatulio said:
Do any of these potters make huge bonsai pots or anyone know where to purchase them? I'm talking 2 - 4 foot wide pots. Would have to be a pretty large kiln.
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I have seen @Roy Minarai make a pot or two that size- made a BIG one for @MACH5 actually.. s special order obviously.. I think @hometeamrocker can as well- at leas to the smaller end of that size spectrum; both great potters and great guys!!
 
If I see another pot spun on a wheel I'm gonna scream!!!
 
Smoke said:
If I see another pot spun on a wheel I'm gonna scream!!!
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I think somewhere here I said I had no interest in wheel thrown pots and I don't feel to much better about them now. But, there is a demand for them and learning the wheel has pushed me past another negative bump in the road.
 
Gdy2000 said:
Along the same lines, if you have a great RMJ with masculine features, I would think you would want to place that in an American pot. I suppose the only issue is that an older tree deserves an older pot, my assumption is that there is not a lot of older, large, unglazed rectangles to choose from. Is that correct?
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Unfortunately, most pots large enough to house the larger collected stock from out west need to be at least 18" wide, and on up to pushing 30". Sara Rayner (probably Ron Lang, too) has produced some unglazed, wheel thrown rectangles that measure greater then 20" wide, but not much wider, and you absolutely pay a premium for them- $400-$600. I can still find pots in that size range from Japan and China for significantly less.
 
thams said:
I know you've got some real gems that I've seen pop up on Facebook bonsai auctions from time to time - especially some funky Nick Lenz pots. When I've got a little more cash to spend I'd also like to see if you still have some Roy Minarai accent pots still kicking around for sale. If I remember correctly, you posted some matte gold accents some months back at auction.

You've always been great every time I've purchased pottery from you, so I'm more than happy to promote your site. I'll have to dig around the interwebs to see if I can find some examples of Sean Smith's stuff.

Go Dawgs, by the way. I assume you'll be plastered to the television like me tomorrow night. Fingers crossed that our defense and offense decide to show up together for this one - we're gonna need it.
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Can anyone tell me if my pot is a Nick Lenz?
 

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Bzeiglerk said:
Can anyone tell me if my pot is a Nick Lenz?
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I have very big doubts that this is Nick Lenz' work. This looks like a sugar dish, not a bonsai pot. I have never seen a Nick Lenz sugar dish. He doesn't do straight up commercial market pottery that is not bonsai-related, as far as I know. Only bonsai and companion plant pots and occasional coffee mug.

Although the clay and glaze are similar to those that Lenz uses, I can't make out if there is an "NL" signature on the bottom in the photo. He signs his work. Even if this is his work and it's not signed, it's not worth a lot... It is a nice stoneware sugar dish, though.



http://americanbonsaiceramics.com/2017/01/06/nick-lenz/
 
Hi everyone, after a long hiatus from b-nut and my American potters website, I've finally decided to get back into updating the website. I know I need to update some potters' info and add to the list with folks who aren't yet included.

Aside from a brief bio on each potter, their signatures or chops, and examples of work, is there any other information that would be helpful to include? Would more extended blog-type posts for potters be cool to read about? Virtual studio tours? Interviews? Videos or pictures showing how various potters make their pots? Kiln firing stuff? Glaze formulation?

I'm open to any suggestions and criticism!
 
I hope you aren't upset with me for not getting back in touch with you about a write-up.

Truth, I feel what you have put together is so great, I've been stalling for of whenever sales stall.

Hope you've been well!

Sorce
 
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