Tenpai are small sculptures mostly in bronze but they may also be other materials such as wood or ivory. Tenpai be used to complete the drafting of a bonsai. The better and sometimes rare tenpai are often made by hand. Antique tenpai are rare and costly. Often tenpai be used to indicate to the season, a grasshopper is suitable for the summer, young animals with a mother symbolize the spring and a pagoda can be used throughout the year.
