Serious money metalwork

[Matsunoki]

Good Meiji pieces are now starting to be truly appreciated……about time!!!

 

https://www.bonhams....8-1912-circa-1890-3/

[lonely panet]

its nice,  but 100k nice ??

[Matsunoki]

2 hours ago, lonely panet said:

its nice,  but 100k nice ??

Well, matter of opinion I guess. Compare it to some modern “art” …..a few daubs of paint that makes millions, or a vase of sunflowers on a bit of canvas etc and it looks cheap given that it is amongst the very finest metalwork ever produced by anyone anytime. Personally I think the best Meiji work has been and still is vastly undervalued (together with cloisonne enamels) but of course the market always decides. Demand in Japan is growing strongly as they realise just how good the top flight output actually was. Being largely made for the West, most  of it left Japan at the time it was produced but now, like good Chinese work, it’s finding its way back. I used to sell a lot to a Japanese dealer…..I’d like it all back now😳

[lonely panet]

7 hours ago, Matsunoki said:

Well, matter of opinion I guess. Compare it to some modern “art” …..a few daubs of paint that makes millions, or a vase of sunflowers on a bit of canvas etc and it looks cheap given that it is amongst the very finest metalwork ever produced by anyone anytime. Personally I think the best Meiji work has been and still is vastly undervalued (together with cloisonne enamels) but of course the market always decides. Demand in Japan is growing strongly as they realise just how good the top flight output actually was. Being largely made for the West, most  of it left Japan at the time it was produced but now, like good Chinese work, it’s finding its way back. I used to sell a lot to a Japanese dealer…..I’d like it all back now😳

very good point

[Robert S]

There was a lot of amazing work in that sale... and it's interesting how much of it didn't sell.  I ended up getting one of the lacquer boxes (lot 69):  my first experience with Bonhams, and likely my last.  Unfortunately, they haven't moved into the 21st century in terms of providing seamless payment, shipping, etc., and I wonder if that is part of the reason for the poor performance of that sale.  We're all used to much better service these days...

[Jake6500]

Given the listed size and dimensions as well as the quality I'm actually not surprised by the final selling price.

 

It's a price I'd be willing to pay for it if I were ever to get into collecting these sorts of pieces, however these sorts of works aren't really my thing.

 

I'm not an expert on iron pieces like these but the price seems comparable to what collectors pay for even smaller porcelain Satsuma wares.