Meselson Collection Offered at Bonhams’ September 19th Fine Japanese Art Auction

Wednesday, 20 August 2008 23:50

New York City - Bonhams New York announces an important sale of Fine Japanese Art is to be held on Friday, September 19, 2008 at 1 pm in its prestigious new premises at 580 Madison Avenue.  This auction will showcase inro together with a selection of netsuke from the collection of the late and influential Ann Swedlow Meselson of Los Angeles, California. 

Mrs. Meselson (1905-2007) ranks among the foremost 20^th century collectors of miniature Japanese art and was known among the collecting community for her exceptional taste, discriminating eye and boundless enthusiasm.  She became the first amongst her circle of noted collectors to set a goal of building en suite sets of netsuke, inro and ojime.  The 38 inro offered in this sale -- all of which are matched with netsuke and ojime save for two lots -- reflect her passion for classical myths and the natural world rendered in a variety of schools and styles, dating from the late 18^th until the end of the 19^th century.

Highlights from this collection include the auctioneer’s catalog cover lot- a fine roiro ground, four-case inro covered with butterflies in flight (est. $6/7,000) and matched with a miniature scroll-box netsuke decorated with the same theme, paying tribute to Mrs. Meselson’s love of this subject. 

Also featured from this collection are: a 19^th century four-case inro decorated with six cavorting monkeys by the Inagawa family of artists (est. $7/9,000), matched with a netsuke of a monkey by Masanao; a superb, large three-case inro depicting the deity Kannon floating down a stream surrounded by seashells (est. $18/22,000) is complemented by a shell form ojime and netsuke of a “clam’s dream” by artist Hara Yoyusai (1772-1845/6); and an important, rare gold lacquer sheath inro of a kabuto (helmet) and fan by 19^th century artist Kayo Renka (est. $20/25,000) is matched with a wood netsuke of a helmet.

Another piece from the collection is garnering quite a bit of attention.  A very rare roiro lacquer tonkotsu (tobacco pouch) set by Shibata Zeshin (1807-1891), the world-renowned painter and lacquer artist of the late Edo and Meiji Period, could bring as much as $30,000.  Zeshin’s brilliant talents have recently been showcased in a traveling exhibition of the Edson Collection, which appeared this spring at the Japan Society in New York after showing at both the San Antonio Museum of Art and the Minneapolis Institute of Art.  The tobacco pouch to be offered is decorated with a simple bamboo basket and catalpa branches reversed by a seated fox rendered in katakiribori, with the ink cake netsuke signed by the artist. 

Besides this spectacular selection of inro, the sale also features 24-lots of netsuke from Mrs. Meselson’s collection, including works by Tomotada, Mitsuhiro, Tanaka Minko, Sosui, and the Iwami School artists Tomiharu and Bunshojo.

A selection of inro and netsuke from various owners complements these offerings, with work by Ikkan, Suzuki Tokoku, Masatoshi and other masters.

In addition to the many inro and netsuke on offer are several Japanese paintings and screens.  Highlights amongst these are a pair of Kyoto Kano six-panel screens featuring chrysanthemums and bamboo (est. $18/25,000); a rare Torii School mid-18^th century six-panel screen depicting animated theatergoers against a backdrop of painted billboards of Kabuki actors outside the Ichimura Theater (est. $10/15,000); an exceptional painting of a courtesan, attributed to Kaigetsudo Anchi (fl. 1700-20); a lovely painting by Yamamoto Baiitsu (1783-1856) depicting summer flowers; and a dynamic painting of a tiger by Yokoyama Taikan (1784-1837) estimated at $7,000 to $10,000.

Rounding out the sale will be a selection of lacquer and okimono from a prominent New York collection along with outstanding Meiji bronzes and mixed-metal work from this collection and various owners.  Highlights from this selection include figural bronzes and vessels by Miyao Esuke of Yokohama, including a large and impressive jardinière estimated at $25,000 to $40,000, works by the Inoue and Maruki companies, Kaga style inlaid bronze vases and large dishes, and a group of Taisho bronze okimono.

“We’re extremely pleased to have the opportunity to present this body of work at Bonhams’ extraordinary new Manhattan galleries,” states Asian Art Director Dessa Goddard.  “With so many stunning pieces, it truly is an impressive collection of work worthy of being presented in a such a grand setting.”

The illustrated auction catalog will be online for review and purchase in the weeks preceding the sale at www.bonhams.com/us. Previews open at Bonhams NY on September 13^th, continuing daily until the auction.

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