Triskele - Euro collaborations

TRISKELE 2018 - Czech. 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.

Once every year Tom Benda, Andrew Pearson and Thor Holvila meet up to make an edition of just a few pots together which will be named and stamped after the country they choose to work in. 2018 it was hosted by Tom in Czech Republic and the collection was named after Tom's local town of Tábor, in the South Bohemian region on the river Lužnice. The famous 'Zizka square is like stepping back in time, and features different styles of architecture, including Baroque, Renaissance, and Gothic styles.
The theme for this year was the 2 tailed lion of Tábor.

Each pot body is made by one of the potters, then another of the group adds feet, detail and glaze finishes. The pots bears the Triskele stamp, in addition to the two specific 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 Tom Benda

.....'This time I wanted to keep the beautiful curves of the wheelthrown pot as much as possible, so I didn't go for something courageous. I just added a slim lined rim and the cloud feet and waited for the gods of my woodfired kiln. I got one of my best glaze ever! Great body of the glaze and its wonderful velvet matt surface, oooo... But the gods didn't ask for the refund and took it right away. Due to cracks that appeared during fire it is not frost resitant but suitable for tropicals/indoor, or just as a collectible. The cracks are repairable with the artificial resin'

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

....... 'I couldn't resist putting three warrior feet on this round pot. Im happy with how the thin layer of turquoise came out but planned for the feet to be a bit darker. But now when I see it on photo I think it makes an interesting contrast?'

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

.... 'I wanted to reflect the harsh conditions of cold frosty Scandinavia on this small shallow rugged pot that Thor made. So I applied a white slip to the clay body and then glazed this pot with an icy blue celadon glaze that looks ice cold. I am very pleased with how this glaze came out'

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

.....' 'This was a plain square with a beautiful elegant rim when I started with it. Instead of ”just” putting on feet, I decided to pull the knife and carve something that would resemble bark and movement. And one corner got the face of the ”Ent”.'

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

... 'The body was defined so much and I was happy with it so I worked just on the feet - and kept them simple, I think this way they fit well'.

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

... 'With Tom’s pot each face of the the pot was begging for my trademark blossoms to be added. This time though I used a red slip to colour the plum blossom and then glazed the over with one of my turquoise glazed which allowed the red slip on the blossoms to peek through.'