Japanese fine art auction at bonhams

Above: 18th century print attributed to Suzuki Harunobu and Isoda Koryusai, est. price £800-£1,200.

Feeling flush? No, me neither, but if I was, I’d consider a trip to Bonhams for the upcoming Fine Japanese Art auction on Tuesday May 11.

Almost 500 pieces of Japanese history will go under the hammer, including a vast array of ukiyo-e (woodblock prints), paintings, ceramics, carvings and screens. For the samurai enthusiasts, there’s also armour, swords and intricately carved netsuke (used to attach small inro boxes/holders to pocketless robes and kimono).

Bonhams has estimated the collection should sell for around £1.6 million, and selected Lot 366, a rare Nabeshima shaku-zara  (large dish, above right) decorated with Buddhist images, as a key piece for collectors. Nabeshima wares were extremely limited in production and this particular dish (est. £100,000 to £150,00) is one of few pieces remaining today.      

The same amount could also get you a remarkable suit of armour from the Edo period (18th-19th century). Listed as Lot 68, this mogami do tosei gusoku armour previously belonged to the Hotta clan, an aristocratic Japanese family with links to a Shogun. The black lacquered iron suit includes a 16th-century signed helmet, a pair of sandals and an adapter for wearing civilian swords.

L-R: Lot 105 Utagawa Toyokuni I & Utagawa Kunisada; Lot 99 Ando Hiroshige.

For those on more modest budgets, the two 19th-century Spring sakura (cherry blossom)-themed prints above are estimated to fetch between £600-£800 and £2,000-£3,000 respectively. 

My eye is on Lot 111 above, a pair of Kawase Hasui prints dated Showa 8 (1933).  These oban (10x15”) prints - depicting a scenic evening in Osaka and Nara’s Kasuga Shrine in the rain - are estimated to sell for £600-£800.

Head to Bonhams or view the catalogue online for more. Please note Lots 78 through 86 are not safe for work, unless of course, your boss appreciates 18th century shunga (erotic art). At this point you may also want to revisit the picture at the top of this post, paying special attention to the bashful old man shielding his eyes as he passes the lascivious couple…

Bonhams Fine Japanese Art auction, New Bond Street, London, UK
Tues 11 May, 2010.

All pictures from Bonhams.