Heian Tofukuji (1890-1970) is one of Japan’s leading bonsai pot artisans, whose work focused primarily on crafting pots for shohin (small-sized, 20 cm or less) bonsai. He made many very practical and functional pots with an extremely wide variety of forms and glazes, emphasizing the “harmony” with the bonsai plant above all other factors. This piece is for shohin bonsai, which were Tofukuji’s forte. The coloring was intentionally changed during the firing process to give it a distinctive, deeply flavorful mottled pattern.