Japanese Works of Art

An ivory netsuke described as ‘after Tomotada of Kyoto’ hammered for Can$42,000 (£22,840) against an estimate of Can$1200-1800 at Harrington’s (25% buyer’s premium) in Ontario.

While few will welcome the news that Bonhams – the last of the major auction houses to hold regular sales Japanese works of art in London – is moving its department to Paris (ATG No 2690), there will be opportunities for UK salerooms that continue to plough this selective but occasionally fruitful furrow.

There is no doubt that the Asian art auction market in London’s major salerooms is feeling the squeeze.

In a loss to the sector, Bonhams has shelved its sales of Japanese works of art in London. Specialist Suzannah Yip, who had led Bonhams’ department for 18 years, has left the company after a decision was taken to move operations to Paris.

While the estimate of $20-50 did not necessarily reflect it, the sale at Hayloft Auctions (28% buyer’s premium) in the Bronx, New York, on September 9 included an exceptional piece of Japanese porcelain.

A selection of lots from upcoming auctions held at the same time as Asian Art in London

Auction houses and dealers have launched a partnership for this year’s Asian Art in London event allowing exhibitions to be held in salerooms at the three major firms for the first time.

Five works by one of the greatest exponents of the intricate art of cloisonné enamel were included in Alderfer Auction’s (23% buyer’s premium) Collectors sale staged on July 24-25.

Recent sales show the appetite for Chinese art from bidders with deep pockets is not at all diminished

Collector never seemed to give up in a battle to win more magnificent ukiyo-e works

Event that filled the void left by Art & Antiques for Everyone is back at Birmingham NEC after its debut last year

'Okashi', the Japanese term for anything strange, unusual or deliberately humorous, defines the array of pieces on display at Michael Hoppen’s first exhibition held in its new premises in Holland Park, west London.

During his travels to Europe, Winfield Robbins (1841-1910) amassed some 150,000 prints that he later left to his hometown of Arlington, Massachusetts.

The most eagerly contested lot at the Echoes Antiques & Auction Gallery (23% buyer’s premium) sale on January 23 was a Japanese cloisonné miniature teapot bearing the mark of the great Namikama Yasuyuki.

Namikawa Yasuyuki (1845-1927) is one of the most famous and highly regarded masters of the art of Japanese cloisonné.

While auction prices for works of art from Japan can scarcely compete with those achieved for pieces from China, the sale at Hargesheimer (28% buyer’s premium) in Düsseldorf on November 30 showed that there is still a healthy market for netsuke.