How to choose a bonsai pot no 1 - Xavier's Ficus burtt-davyi
Updated: Jun 11, 2021
Due to popular demand we have started this series to help Bonsai artists and our loyal customers in their choice of a bonsai container. There are many factors that need to be taken into account when selecting a bonsai pot and we will be diving into the way we select a container for our trees and customers trees.
Masculine or Feminine
The main consideration in choosing a pot is to work out if the tree is masculine or feminine. This is determined by multiple characteristics of each tree, for example the nebari, trunk line, bark texture, leaf density and much more.
A tree that has characteristics of strength, power, formality, harshness, roughness and struggle can be considered masculine
A tree that has characteristics of calm, delicacy, instability, informality and finesse can be considered feminine.
Note:
Please note that these are merely guidelines and form a basis on how to break down the elements of tree and pot to help in choosing a correct Bonsai container. Every artist and bonsai enthusiast will have their own opinions and artistic flair which will create a different composition of their own.
Ficus burtt-davyi
Xavier van der Merwe
Current pot size: 26 x 19cm
Tree characteristics
Lets start by listing some of the characteristics of this tree and how they fit into the masculine or feminine approach.
Nebari - Feminine, Not a very pronounced root base, not even radiating root distribution.
Trunk line - Feminine, Elongated, slight angle to the ground, slender movement.
Bark texture - Feminine, Smooth bark but with age will mature with more texture.
Bark colour - Feminine, Light cream in colour with a light brown tint.
Primary branches - Masculine, thick primary branches with acute angle to trunk. less taper and movement than the trunk. Possible improvement in future to match this.
Ramification - Feminine, early stages but Ficus burtt-davyi create nice fine twiggy growth.
Leaf size/density - Feminine, leaves reduce well, therefore quite petite and dainty leaf veins.
Leaf colour New/Old - Feminine, light colour of the leaf vein and lamina.
Other features - Scars, will heal over and be less visible in time.
Masculine 1 - Feminine 7
On the scale below the tree is at no 4 on the feminine side.
Pot selection
Option A: Dot Pot - 21.5cm round x 6cm - Willow Bonsai Pots
A. Pot characteristics:
1. Top View - Feminine, Round.
2. Side Profile - Feminine, reduction towards base creates a gentle curve.
3. Rim effect - Feminine, No rim present.
4. Feet of pot - Feminine, feet are indented from the front profile view.
5. Feet design - Feminine, Simple yet rounded design, low profile is slightly more masculine though.
6. Details and special features - Masculine, the studs on the top and lower section of the pot.
7. Glazed/Unglazed - Masculine, Due to the matt tone of the glaze and neutral Deep Stone glaze the glaze is more subdued.
Glaze Option B: to create a feminine effect a more glossy glaze must be used for example the green Seaweed glaze below in our range. The light green will harmonize with the new leaves, the dark green will harmonize with the older leaves, The dark brown will contrast the bark colour while picking up the darker tones in the bark. See Below.
Masculine 2 - Feminine 5
Reasoning
1. Contrast and Harmony - The Deep Stone glaze of the pot has 2 elements. A light tan colour and dark brown colour with a dark brown rim effect.
The light colour will harmonize with the light bark colour as well as the leaf vein.
The dark brown colour will contrast well with the new and old leaves, plus the bark and fruit.
2. Composition/ Telling a story - This pot will emphasizes the slanting trunk, slender movement of the trunk and contrasts well with the foliage. The slight detail of the studs help to enhance the primary branch design. This pot will tell the story of a tall slender tree growing out on its own next to a river or dam.
Glaze option B for Dot pot:
Option B: Oval T Large - 31 x 22 x 5cm - Willow Bonsai Pots
B. Pot characteristics:
1. Top View - Feminine, Oval.
2. Side Profile - Feminine, reduction towards base creates a gentle curve
3. Rim effect - Feminine, No rim present.
4. Feet of pot - Feminine, feet are indented from the front profile view.
5. Feet design - Masculine, Simple, low profile design with straight sides and curved rectangular effect.
6. Details and special features - None.
7. Glazed/Unglazed - Feminine, Glossy Seaweed glaze.
Masculine 1 - Feminine 5
Reasoning
1. Contrast and Harmony - The light green will harmonize with the new leaves, the dark green will harmonize with the older leaves, The dark brown will contrast the bark colour while picking up the darker tones in the bark.
An unglazed effect will work with this tree but then we are only using 1 element to contrast or harmonize, where with the seaweed glaze it has 3 elements to help the tree pop.
2. Composition/ Telling a story - This pot will emphasizes the slant/movement and negative space achieved by the extra space under the first branch on the left. Compared to option A this pot will emphasize the openness and singular feel of this tall, slender tree. Adding an element of serenity with the idea that the tree is now further from other trees/objects.
Conclusion
This Ficus will look great in both pots depending on the root ball size and future development. However in my opinion Option B will tell more of a story and combine the characteristics of the tree and pot in better harmony.
As always this is an opinion and is just a guideline to what can work and the reason thereof. In art we need to take a set of choices and make them tangible and easy to understand. Breaking up the characteristics of the tree and pot makes this easier to explain the options and choices made in a constructive manner. Not just saying it looks nice or not, but using the above to tell a story and convey the image in the artists mind to the viewer.
Want to participate?
We plan on doing a case study on a tree like the above each week for our customers and collection trees. If you would like to participate and have us choose a pot for your tree with explanations please send us an email with the following details:
Photo of tree taken from the front and at eyelevel
Size of the tree
Size of current pot
Future growth and compositional remarks for the future.
What story do you have in mind for the tree or what feature do you want to enhance.
Send the above to willowbonsaishop@gmail.com