Strange market

[Robert S]

The Bonham's auction today painted a picture of a pretty strange market.  The nihonto on offer had estimate ranges that I felt were at the higher end, but not outrageous, and mostly they either didn't sell, or sold at the low end  Meanwhile the Tosogu were attracting crazy money, often multiples of the high end of the estimate.  The pair of tsuba pictured - beautiful work, but no origami - went for US$ 32,000! 

 

[Tohagi]

Very nice.

The left one reminds me a Mito ushikoshi tsuba I have: same shape, shakudo and delicate composition. 

[lonely panet]

Because rich peaple buy what they want

[Tcat]

Will be interesting to see the results of the Sotheby's sale too...

[Scogg]

Some of those premier auction houses bring crazy premium prices that would surprise most in the respective collecting community.

Bonhams and Sotheby's not only draw in nihonto collectors, but also the ultra wealthy art collectors, who will pay big money for what they want. 

Like Lonely Planet says.
Cheers,
-Sam

[Robert S]

  On 3/25/2025 at 1:52 AM, lonely panet said:

Because rich peaple buy what they want

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Agreed, and I rather suspect there were (at least) two rich people competing for some of the tosogu.  Still nuts, mind.

[The Forest Ninja]

People do spend lots of money on items that others may find crazy at times.

But if they can afford it so be it.

[Tcat]

Well… the results are in. Nearly a quarter of a million dollars for the Rai Kunitoshi tanto.

It seems that everything which sold did so for higher than estimate, but a fair number went unsold. A juyo Higo koshirea though rather plain sold for 31k haha. Funny old world.