Dear Friends
It was only last month that I wrote to you extoling the delights of Spring being around the corner, the crazy storms seemingly passed and Ryan and I were preparing for a visit to the stunning setting of Wilton house, Saturday saw Ryan cover for me as I took a trip to LFC to treat a long standing friend and business associate to a day out in the rather salubrious surroundings of the Anfield boardroom, looking back today it is hard to believe this was the last opportunity to watch a live Premier league match, or to attend an antique fair that actually ran its full course.
Understandably I didn’t quite know where to begin or end this month’s newsletter, if it wasn’t such a serious situation affecting all of us you could be forgiven for thinking its April the 1st and Steve is winding us up, how I wish that were the case.
Thank you to those that did attend Wilton House and a special thanks to those who chose to purchase various items from Ryan, including this stunning Gold thread Fukusa of Minogame.
As dealers used to spending countless hours on the road we are not naturally comfortable being confined to barracks, clearly we cannot go on house, gallery or auction visits until things settle down, and of course in these difficult times saving lives is far more important!!! so we will follow the governments advice as best we can and ask that you do the same.
On a more positive footing we will continue to upload fresh items to our online gallery www.steve@steveslyjapaneseart.com as and when we manage to photograph them.
Take a look at this monumental Arita vase direct to us from a USA collection;
We are very conscious of the current economic climate, for many individuals buying antiques and collectables is a passion rather than a necessity, however if you want or are in a position to cheer yourself up and add to your Japanese works of art collection in this difficult period please do get in touch with me at steve@steveslyjapaneseart.com I will be delighted to listen to any serious enquiries, offer possible payment options or just give general advice where I can.
Whether buying or considering selling please do make contact, also continue to follow us online where I will be working hard both at Steve Sly Japanese Art As well as assisting the team at my other online marketplace 2Covet which has further new dealer subscribers this month, please take a look www.2Covet.com.
As the initial shock abates and given time perhaps the realisation that life needs to slow down will be the legacy of this dreadful virus, there is no doubt in my mind that life will not return to normal anytime soon, if at all, but hopefully when normality returns it is for the better for the entire planet.
For the immediate future the social distancing will undoubtedly push many of the billions of people sat at home into the world of online shopping, recent statistics suggest that is the case and actually the way the world was heading anyway, it is a shame that such a tragic set of circumstances restricts life as we knew it, but online would seem to be the only way to buy/sell or socialise for the foreseeable future.
I was staggered to hear Mrs Sly suggest booking an online shopping experience at the supermarket !!!!!!, to be fair she is understandably as nervous as the rest of us to venture out and that has to be the right mentality at this time.
In summary the couriers are still working, I and my team are still working hard from home, and if you need or would like any products, help or advise please get in touch, but most of all do stay safe.
Best wishes
Steve