Dear Friends
As we leave behind the balmy days of summer and look towards the busy autumn Asian art period, I have to say in some ways I feel a sense of relief. Yes, at home in the UK we have had record days of sunshine bringing much joy to many. On a personal level I could never have envisaged so many days spent in the tranquillity of the garden, or out on the water with family and good friends, boating season has been an absolute treat and hopefully will continue for the coming weeks, but I really do relish the emergence of autumn and the opportunity to get back to work, if you can call it work.
The jolly boys outing to the Isle of Wight
on a scorching August day.
Conversely, the prolonged extreme heat has resulted in numerous wildfires throughout the UK, one so close to home here on the edge of the New Forest that had a devastating effect on the local heathlands and wildlife. What started as a seemingly innocuous van fire on the main holiday route through the New Forest resulted in around 250 acres of heathlands burning for eight days solid, closing the main holiday route and causing serious traffic congestion, local business has also suffered greatly.
On the day I got caught up in it I managed to use local knowledge to navigate a route across the forest, it was very surreal and somewhat spooky, smoke lingered in the air, the usual scene of pony’s, cattle and donkeys grazing on the roadside was replaced with a charred barren landscape, the only sign of life being this lone white horse sheltering in what is usually a bustling beer garden. It was heartbreaking to witness; it’s only thanks to the incredible work of the fire and emergency services that nobody lost their lives.
Back to business, and once again, the monthly featured item “crow by Masatsune” only lasted a few hours before being reserved by a UK collector of mixed metal okimono and high-quality works of art. This much valued client has been collecting art for many years, not just Japanese but also European and Chinese.
As is often the case with collectors, over time their taste differs, their eye for quality improves as does their confidence to reach to a higher level, much dependent on their financial ability of course. All too often I am asked to assist collectors in disposing of lower-quality items, often bought in haste, partly to release funds and to free up space, but primarily because they are now refining their collection into something they can be proud of.
As is the situation with this valued client, who will not mind me highlighting their natural progression, having developed a keen eye for the best they continue to place their trust in my hands. As a result of many years of patient guidance the client now owns, what is, and will continue to evolve into an outstanding highly prized collection of Meiji Period artworks.
As a dealer in such a niche market I find myself in an often difficult but enviable position of having a book of valued clients regularly chasing me down for the very finest pieces, for which I am eternally grateful, sadly the very finest pieces are not available to pick up on the shelves at Walmart or Ikea. These highly prized metalworks and other objects take some sourcing, further researching and sometimes require expert cleaning or restoration, followed by photography and descriptions before being ready to market.
If I am honest, I am finding it tougher each month to satisfy demand, and when an object like the crow sells it generally leaves another client upset that they have missed the opportunity, as was the case here.
As often I state, less = more, and it’s becoming increasingly evident that this is going to be the future, with less fine objects coming to market to satisfy more collectors vying for them. I am conscious that the inventory is much reduced on my gallery, however, I am not prepared to simply fill shelves with “general commercial stuff”, it’s all too easy to compromise quality for quantity, and that’s not going to happen on my watch.
As always, my focus is firmly on my database of loyal clients for whom I will endeavour to continue to deliver something meaningful each month (aside from my ramblings). Sincere thanks to all my readers around the globe for their continued engagement and for their valuable patronage.
This month’s featured item really is a rare treat, a larger than usual example of a silver and enamel vase by the highly prized enamellist of the late 19th century “Hiratsuka Mohei”. His exceptional works on both iron and silver are recorded in leading collections and museums around the globe, as well as for your approval here at SSJA. Simply click the link to view this lavish gold wired enamel and silver vase, fully signed by Mohei.
And finally, our little star Alice received her full AFCB kit for the season, she can be seen here at 06.00 am one Saturday morning last month awaiting what would be a 12 hour return journey by coach to play in a friendly against the Manchester Utd under 10’s. They lost the match, but the result was of little importance, the mere fact that a 9-year-old had the confidence for such a journey speaks volumes for her determination to succeed, it was also a great opportunity to bond with the older girls on the coach. The funniest part of the day was when the girls stopped at the services on the way home and were asked for their autographs by an avid fan, a shade premature perhaps, but who knows, hopefully one day fans will be queuing up for them.
Best wishes
Steve