International studio (60.1916/1917)

Studio-Talk


CARVED YELLOW LACQUER TRAY 7 INCHES IN DIAMETER
SOLD FOR 8000 YEN IN COUNT DAT& SALE

ago when the Empress Dowager of
Japan passed away. The matter was
then held in abeyance until recently,
when two sales were held with an interval
of about two months between. The
interest aroused was keener than that
shown at the famous Nishi Hongwanji
sales. (See The Studio, October 1913,
and June 1914.)
At the first sale there were 375 items,
consisting of pottery and porcelain
wares, inlaid and metal work, gold and
carved lacquer wares and paintings and
calligraphs. The sale included a number
of meibutsu, meaning special articles well
known throughout Japan. The largest
sum was paid for a cha-ire, tea-holder,
of sombre tone. It is one of the
meibutsu, known by the name of Iwaki
Bunrin Cha-ire. But, think of it—
56,000 yen for an unpretentious pot
of less than three inches in height
A small square lacquer tray, inlaid with

Tokyo. — The
recent sale of the
treasures of Count
Date, the former
feudal lord of Sendai, was
an historic event to the con-
noisseurs of Japan. The
ancient family of Date, with
its many illustrious an-
cestors, not only as warriors,
but as patrons of art and
connoisseurs, has long been
famous for the accumula-
tion of art treasures. Count
Date-Munemoto has been
expending thousands of yen
annually for the preservation
and care of his collection of
treasures, which have been
handed down to him from
past generations. But the
Count had made up his
mind to sell it—or rather
a part of it, leaving only
those objects that are quite
indispensable for maintain-
ing the dignity and tradition
of the Date family — and
necessary preparations were
well on the way three years


LACQUERED BOX FOR INK-STONE
SOLD FOR 18,000 YEN AT THE SALE OF COUNT DATA'S TREASURES

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