Bonhams yesterday …wow!

[Matsunoki]

Check out the tsuba and Tanto prices!

https://www.bonhams....-art-part-ii/?page=6

[Bob M.]

Good / top quality always sells well especially if it has a good provenance.

 

The estimates were ' come get me ' , but the fact that every lot in the fittings section sold is encouraging in itself.

 

We will never know, but it would be interesting to see if any of these items were headed back to Japan. More probably purchased by Western millionaire collectors.

[Matsunoki]

Bonhams billed it as Hartman Collection. Wonder if that is the same family as the wonderful Hartman collection sold many many years ago?  I still enjoy that hardback catalogue. 
Still annoyed at them for this time lotting so many things together especially the superb tanto but as said elsewhere Bonhams don’t give a damn. 

[Bugyotsuji]

Amazing prices realized.

[Bob M.]

Hi Colin,

 

I think that the older Hartman collection was by Roland Hartman ( d. 2010 ) brother of Alan, ( d. 2023 ).

 

Both brothers were art dealers who had collaborated in their early years before going their separate ways.

 

That auction was from 1976 which seems to indicate that he had a change of direction in his collecting.

 

I agree with you about the lotting, but when Bonhams get these sort of results....

[Katsujinken]

I saw all of these lots in person, and I would not describe any of the tsuba or koshirae lots as “top quality.” All of the koshirae had issues. I don’t know who was buying them or why, but I don’t understand the prices they were willing to spend. That said, auctions are a good route to go if you’re short on time or knowledge, but have plenty of money. I don’t think any of these lots were so unique that you couldn’t track down comparable or better pieces with a dealer and/or in Japan for the same amount of money or less.

 

I suspect we are seeing some foreign money at work here, and I say that without a value judgment implied.

[Rivkin]

They seem to be most fairly late and more expensive pieces are probably Meiji, some executed in accordance to better known motifs, but the hand is different from the originals. Some signed ones are a bit eff...

Seems to be one person's taste clearly governing the collection. 

Very nice and very representative of Meiji style.

[Matsunoki]

13 hours ago, Katsujinken said:

I would not describe any of the tsuba or koshirae lots as “top quality.”

Michael, I would like to know what you were comparing the tsuba to if you didn’t see them as “top quality”. They are just about the finest examples of Bakumatsu and Meiji period mixed metal tsuba etc that we are ever likely to encounter including in Japan. In what way did they fall short “in hand”? Maybe the subjects are not your thing? Certainly they are not to everyone’s taste aesthetically but quality??

[lonely panet]

those who have, and those who have not.....

 

but i feel some peaple paid well above the market values or evan ginza values

[Matsunoki]

11 minutes ago, lonely panet said:

those who have, and those who have not

To quote Talking Heads…..”same as it ever was”….

[Katsujinken]

Given the lack of age many of the pieces could have been in better condition, and most of the work simply isn’t that skillful in my opinion,

especially when compared to the work of earlier soft metal masters. 
 

The prices some of the lots achieved, especially with the premium added, were outrageous. 
 

 But hey that’s the free market for you!

[Gakusee]

The pieces are overall better than average.
 

However, the condition of many was indeed compromised and there were various gimei items. Some of those that attracted very high prices were acquired at Juyo-level (ie mei verified, age verified, top quality and top condition assured) prices, when in fact they were not at that level. A couple of gems went unnoticed or went at reasonable prices. 

[Matsunoki]

1 hour ago, Gakusee said:

The pieces are overall better than average.

Michael, just to be clear, are you referring to the tsuba or the swords/blades?

[Gakusee]

2 hours ago, Matsunoki said:

Michael, just to be clear, are you referring to the tsuba or the swords/blades?

Colin, apologies for being ambiguous: I meant koshirae and tsuba. I also agree with you that we should not argue about aesthetics here or personal tastes as these embody the Meiji era. 

[Kanenaga]

I thought there were many quality inro in this auction.

Don't see them in the results. Did I hallucinate them?

[Shuko]

I really need to win Powerball ............................... 

[Matsunoki]

1 hour ago, Kanenaga said:

Don't see them in the results. Did I hallucinate them?

No you didn’t. Separate sale….🙂

https://www.bonhams....tion-of-inro/?page=2