TRISKELE 2019 - Swap Shop edition
​Three of Europe's best bonsai potters unite

​The Triskele group was created in 2016 by three great friends and incredibly talented potters; (left to right) Tom Benda of Sansai Bonsai Pots,  Thor Holvila of Holvila Bonsai Pots, and Andrew Pearson of Stone Monkey Ceramics. All of whom are members of the European Bonsai Potter Collective, and have profiles on this site.  
To the left is the 'Triskele' stamp, a Celtic symbol representing; progress, unity and cycles. The 'Brothers in clay' decided to each create raw pieces in their own clays, which would later be embellished, finished and fired in the styles and kilns of another of the Triskele Group. A truly unique and innovative set of pieces were thus created. 

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Once every year Tom Benda, Andrew Pearson and Thor Holvila swap 2 pot bodies, to be finished by another Triskele potter.
This edition of totally unique and collectible pots are all stamped with the Triskele stamp, in addition to that of both potters involved. 
This series is not in the Top Shelf Bonsai Pot collection, each piece is now owned by a different collector. 

The results are outstanding.

Pot 1. Made by Andy Pearson, and finished by Thor Holvila

Thors comment: " I received a raw pot that Andrew had thrown on the wheel in an amazing white, fine clay. I created large feet that depicts the heads of kings with helmets. I wanted to achieve something that felt like a holy vessel, like an old Chinese incense burner. I glazed it in a runny thin green with white hues along the rim."

Pot 2. Made by  Andrew Pearson, finished by Tom Benda. Resurrected by Thor Holvila. 

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Pot 3. Made by Thor Holvila, finished by Andrew Pearson. Thor Holvila, finished by ​Tom Benda

....  "I received the raw pot that Thor had carved from a single piece of clay. This was made after Thor’s time in japan and the change in style was evident from previous swap pots that Thor had given to me to finish off. I did not want to change the pot so the only thing I did was to texture the four faces of the pot with dragon like scales and glaze it in a traditional Japanese green Oribe style glaze. I am really please with how this pot came out"

Pot 4. Made by Tom Benda, finished by Thor Holvila

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 Pot 5. Made by Thor Holvila, finished by Tom. Resurrected by Thor.

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Pot 6. Made by Tom Benda, finished by Andrew Pearson

...... " I received the raw pot that Tom had made for me and I was at a bit of a loss as to what to do. However after tidying up my studio I found an old stamp that I thought I would like to incorporate into the pot. So is used the stamp around the rim and also the bottom and threw in some extra Triskele stamps for good measure. Not sure what I was thinking about with the feet, probably the fact that my wife does a lot of circus inspired sculpture had somehow rubbed off on me when I did the feet, looks kind of cool though I think. The pot was glazed with an oatmeal glaze that allowed the iron in to clay to peak through. I really love this pot it has great form a volume an would look superb with a flowering tree like a pink Chojubai in it"

The pots were sold at Noelanders Trophy 2018 in Belgium and now reside in various private collections.   advertised and sold......

Further works by these potters is available from the EBPC at www.EuropeanBonsaiPotterCollective.com