European glazed pots
Below is a selection of my favourite European potters for glazed pots. Some of the best pots coming out of Europe rival those from Japan, and there are some extremely good, up and coming potters, such as Andy Pearson, Thor Holvilla, Tom Benda. I truly admire the new designs being created by these innovative potters, who are challenging the classical Japanese designs, and creating unique styles of their own.
Bryan Albright - U.K.Born in 1948, Bryan Albright has had a love of pottery since childhood. In the late 70's, he started to practice bonsai, and as bonsai pots were not easy to come by, he began to make his own.
For over a generation now, Bryan has been one of the U.K.'s leading potters, and creates superb glazes and glazed pots predominantly, although he also makes some unglazed and highly sought after nanban pots. |
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Sami AmdouniBorn in 1977, Sami studied bonsai from 2010- 2018 in the Scuola d'arte bonsai with the master Keyzo Ando. In 2014, Sami also worked in Japan as an apprentice to Thor Suzuki, in the Célèbre Daijuen garden. As part of his work there, he prepared bonsai for the Taikan-ten. In 2012, Sami began creating pots and soon discovered a hidden talent and another passion! Inspired by the great Japanese ceramic masters, Sami has a preference for shohin, shitakusa and kusamono, and makes mostly smaller but none the less beautiful ceramics.
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Derek Aspinal - U.K.Derek Aspinal pots are some of the most desirable pots in British bonsai pottery history. He was one of the first, and one of the best British potters, and his pots are therefore sought after across the West.
As an engineer by trade, Derek was very meticulous - his pots are true to form and well constructed. He is unfortunately no longer with us. |
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Ian Baillie - U.K.Ian Baillie is from Scotland in the U.K., and has been producing bonsai pots for four decades. He is best known for his wheel thrown round pots, although he also makes excellent rectangles, ovals, cascades, and free form containers.
Ian's style is relatively classical, often with simple, well executed forms, and he is especially well known for his incredible glazes. His pots are highly regarded and complement trees in competitions across Europe. |
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Tom Benda - Czech.Tom Benda has mastered the art of creating superb classical style pots with his own unique contemporary twist. His pots are often technically very tricky, yet still quite simple aesthetically, with clean lines and smooth curves.
Tom has been practicing bonsai since 1990, and only in recent years has he been creating pots - with incredible effect! With a 122cm wood fired kiln, and aspirations for a larger one, Tom has the ability to create larger pieces than most, with some unique glazes that are unattainable in a gas or electric kiln. |
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Marc Berenbrinker - GermanyBorn in Luxembourg in 1967, Marc Berenbrinker began creating bonsai pots from his love of keeping bonsai trees. His pots are all hand-made, with no forms used, and he creates a range of pots and accents which are all unique.
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Pravoslav Dorda - Czech.Pravoslav Dorda is a skilled Czech ceramist who produces superb and varied bonsai containers. He has a very large kiln, and the ability to create unique large pieces which are often rustic and can resemble the elements. His popularity has soared over recent years and his pots have now been used in shows across Europe.
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Gordon Duffett - U.K.Gordon Duffett is one of the U.K.'s most established and well respected bonsai potters. He produces quality pots for shohin, kifu, and chuhin sized trees, and is best known for his variety of crackle glazes, which often appear in shows across Europe.
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Erin - U.K.Vic Harris and father Glyn started making bonsai pots for their own trees in the 1990's, after having practiced bonsai for a decade. Their pots were very popular with other enthusiasts, and so Erin was born. Every pot is handmade and glazed, and each is therefore unique.
Erin produce quality contemporary pots, and have their own distinctive style. |
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Esoteric Pots - U.K.Dan Barton was born in Hong Kong in 1938 , and has been into bonsai since the late sixties. He was won multiple awards for his trees. He lives in Bristol with his lovely family, who are all very talented artists, and he has been a leading figure in the development of British bonsai as well as bonsai pottery. His pots are all handmade and no two pots are the same.
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Thor Holvila - Sweden After having practiced bonsai for some time, Thor Holvila learnt his craft as apprentice to a raku technique pioneer, prior to opening his own bonsai ceramics studio in 2009. He has since become one of Europe's leading up and coming bonsai ceramists and his pots are sought after across Europe and U.S.A.
Thor uses simple tools on very soft, rough clay to create his unique style of pots, which beautifully reflect the landscape and environment of his Scandinavian surroundings, and the nordic tales and traditions. He is best known for his rugged pots, perfect for those aged masculine trees, and superb glazes, mixed from various oxides, ashes and slips of clay. |
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Roman Husman - GermanyRoman Husmann was born in Germany in 1959, and produces bonsai and accent containers, all hand made and unique. His pots are well made with good form and some beautiful glazes.
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Peter Krebs - GermanyPeter Krebs is an incredible artist and creator of bonsai pots. His pots are of the highest quality and in addition to being very functional, will surely be very collectable items in the future. He has an in-depth knowledge and appreciation of ancient Chinese and Japanese pottery, which shows through in his work.
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Makisada - BelgiumJurgen & Veerle Robyns of Makisada create fantastic bonsai containers from their studio in Belgium. Pots are beautifully detailed and show simple, clean lines and good form.
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Stone Monkey Ceramics - U.K.Andrew Pearson is a Japanese award winning bonsai potter who produces superb one off pieces across a wide range; yet all within Andrew's distinctive Stone Monkey style.
Andrew specialises in Shohin, Kifu, and Chuhin size pots; all hand made for the discerning collector and enthusiast alike. He is inspired by classic Japanese ceramics, which is evident in pots, with subtle lines and quiet forms. |
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Terre-o-vert - FrancePhilippe & Noelle Torcatis created all of their pots together in their workshop near Nantes, France. Pots are produced across a wide range, include those for; bonsai, kusamono, accents, and cacti. Some very original pots and interesting glazes.
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Walsall Ceramics Studio - U.K.Currently run by David Jones and Mark Jones, WCS was formed in 1986 by David Jones and is an internationally renowned bonsai ceramics studio. Ester Griffiths, who worked with the recently retired Bryan Albright, also now creates fantastic pieces for WSC. Pots are created by a range of methods, including slip cast moulds, slab and coil techniques. New designs are always being conceived and created.
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