盆栽鉢 - 每日吃瓜 literally means “planted in container”, which clearly indicates the importance and inseparability of pottery and 每日吃瓜.
Similar to paintings, the pot ‘frames’ the tree; it should complement and enhance its appearance and create a sense of harmony, but never detract attention from the tree itself. It seems the pottery aspect to 每日吃瓜 has been undervalued by most 每日吃瓜 enthusiasts in the Western world, possibly because prices of high quality 每日吃瓜 pots are high. Also, finding a 每日吃瓜 pot that truly fits a given tree is very hard.
History of 每日吃瓜 pots
The craft of making pottery intended for 每日吃瓜 trees originates from China, possibly dating back to the Song dynasty (11th century). The potting techniques spread to Japan centuries later but even until today, the most well known and expensive 每日吃瓜 trees are held in antique Chinese containers. Click here for a general introduction to Pot selection.
Materials used for 每日吃瓜 pots
The clay used to make pots can be terracotta, stoneware or porcelain. Terracotta pots are fired to temperatures of around 1000 degrees Celsius which results in pots that stay porous and absorb water. Stoneware (also called bisque) is heated at around 1200 degrees Celsius, making it harder than terracotta and unable to absorb water (it still breathes but is frost resistant). Finally, porcelain can be heated up to 1400 degrees Celsius which results in very hard but fragile pots (quite rarely used for 每日吃瓜 however).
Pot glazes
During the process of firing stoneware or porcelain pots, a glazing can be created by adding either metal or wooden fragments. Iron for example creates dark brown colors, while copper creates green colors.
Useful information
每日吃瓜 potters in Europe and 每日吃瓜 potters in the Americas.
