About me

[Peter D]

Hi! Welcome on my page. I'm Peter Dekker, researcher at heart, dealer by trade.

 

I run www.mandarinmansion.com, focused on the research and trade of antique arms of Asia. Founded in 2005, I initially solely focused on Chinese arms, hence the name, as mandarins were the military and civilian officials of China.

 

Interest eventually spread to neighboring cultures; Vietnam, Korea, India and also Japan. I mainly deal online but do art shows every now and then.

 

My setup at PAN Amsterdam, 2023

 

Since 2016, Mandarin Mansion has been my full-time profession. Apart from trade, I help museums, scholars, and private collectors in research on subjects ranging from antique arms to Manchu archery, of which I am a practitioner.

 

What I like about a multi-disciplinary approach is that it makes it easier for me to make comparative analyses between cultures. One of my personal interests, for example, is how cultures interact and influence each other.

 

Apart from writing item descriptions, I am building an ever-expanding Glossary of arms-related terminology.

 

I am pleased to meet you!

 

[Kmad]

Hi All,

I have traded items with Peter and have been very happy with the transaction.

After a very friendly Whats app conversation I sent him my item on a trust basis and he sent me his trade items at the same time with no issues at all.

A very genuine guy.

Welcome to the dealer section Peter.

Regards,

Ken 

 

[Matsunoki]

On 12/5/2023 at 3:42 PM, Peter D said:

I mainly deal online but do art shows every now and then.

Peter, you have a great website and obviously deal in quality pieces. However please excuse me asking but why do you have “price on request” against many items including several Japanese treasures? 
One of  the most successful online and exhibition dealers I know puts a price on everything even if it’s terrifying…..and he does exceptionally well.

I’m just interested in the thinking behind it. I am a retired dealer in predominantly Meiji Art (plus a few other things)

Best. Colin

[Peter D]

15 hours ago, Matsunoki said:

Peter, you have a great website and obviously deal in quality pieces. However please excuse me asking but why do you have “price on request” against many items including several Japanese treasures? 
One of  the most successful online and exhibition dealers I know puts a price on everything even if it’s terrifying…..and he does exceptionally well.

I’m just interested in the thinking behind it. I am a retired dealer in predominantly Meiji Art (plus a few other things)

Best. Colin

 

Hi Colin!

 

It's a very good and very legitimate question. Glad you asked so I can attempt to explain.

 

Personally, I don't like price on request either, and I use it sparingly. I've just done an art show where I introduced some of this year's best items, and so you see more p.o.r. on my site now than normally is the case.

 

My main reason for doing so: Suppliers and competitors also follow my site, and if they see a high-value item sell fast, they will adjust their prices for the next item accordingly. This drives prices up faster across the board than when they wouldn't have known.

 

Also, on some very high-end pieces, buyers can be uncomfortable with the piece having been listed with the price exposed.

 

But what you say is interesting. Maybe I should have more of an open mind and publish more prices and just see what happens.

[Peter D]

16 hours ago, Kmad said:

Hi All,

I have traded items with Peter and have been very happy with the transaction.

After a very friendly Whats app conversation I sent him my item on a trust basis and he sent me his trade items at the same time with no issues at all.

A very genuine guy.

Welcome to the dealer section Peter.

Regards,

Ken 

 

 

Thanks Ken! 

 

I'm glad we worked out something that we were both happy with.

 

-Peter

[Matsunoki]

4 hours ago, Peter D said:

Glad you asked so I can attempt to explain.

Peter, thanks for your views. Interesting to hear them. 
The psychology of selling, especially works of art, is very complex as we know. 

In my experience (and also my own personal opinion) “price on request” can be a severe deterrent or irritant to customers especially potential new customers. It can come across as suggesting that “you cannot afford it anyway”.

I used to do a lot of business in London with two large galleries. Both very much at the top of the tree (I won’t name them!). One priced everything and it was very simple to see potential acquisitions. The other priced nothing and it was so frustrating having to continually ask. It took time and a lot of mental stamina and five minutes later I’d often forgotten what he said!

 It may (or may not) surprise you, but now when I see “price on request” I don’t even bother to ask even if I really like the object.

However these are just the personal musings of a retired “old school” dealer.

Whatever works for you……I wish you great success and fortune. Enjoy the ride. There is no thrill like it.