Date: Fri 09-Jul-1999

Publication: Ant

Author: MARYG

Quick Words:

Perry-Skinner

Full Text:

Lilla Perry Netsuke Draw Interest At Skinner

(with 4 cuts)

BOSTON, MASS. -- Objects from the collection of Lilla Perry were the focus of

interest at Skinner's June 5 auction of Asian works of art. Perry, author of

one of the first books on snuff bottles, was an avid but selective collector

of Asian objects, centering on netsuke and prints in addition to snuff

bottles. It was the netsuke in particular that attracted attention at the

auction.

Highlights from the Perry netsuke collection included one in the form of a

sennis with a horse emerging from a double gourd, signed Natsuke, which sold

for $2,530, while an ox with her calf in the style of Tomotada and a smiling

man holding a double gourd, signed Masanao of Kyoto, sold for $2,530 each as

well.

Others included a small boy with a tiger, signed Masaharu, in seal form and a

finely detailed sculpture of Shoki, signed Minkoku, that reached $2,185 each;

and a sleeping figure of Shoki with a dragon emerging from his robes fetched

$1,955.

A netsuke of Hankei holding a large wooden tablet with an oni mask, signed

Tomokazu, also sold for $1,955.

The auction offered some fine prints, led by Hiroshige's "Sudden Shower Over

Shin-Ohashi Bridge and Atake" from One Hundred Famous Views of Edo, that

garnered $14,950. From the Perry collection, Hiroguhige's "Rough Sea at Naruto

in Awa Province" from Sixty Odd Provinces sold for $2,070, and a circular

print of a blizzard, buildings and river by Hasui fetched $4,313.

Additional highlights in the sale included a selection of armor and weaponry.

A complete suit of Japanese armor brought $3,738, and another lot of Japanese

armor sold high for $2,415, while various weapons included a Nineteenth

Century Japanese Temple sword that sold for $6,900, and an Ottoman-style

Yataghan that brought $2,415.

Notable objects also included selected ivory carvings from the Meiji period. A

lobster garnered $8,050, and two Tokyo School ivory carvings (one depicting an

old man with two children picking persimmons and another depicting a

grandmother showing a cricket to her grandson, signed Masamitsu To) sold for

$4,888 and $3,103 respectively.

Porcelain included a pair of Satsuma vases that sold for $5,463, a pair of

large Roleau vases that sold for $2,990, and a Famille Rose vase that brought

$2,560. A pair of blue and white plates fetched $2,990, and a pair of

porcelain bowls bearing a six-character Tao Kuang mark $3,738.

Also highlighting the sale was a pair of Eighteenth Century Chinese Imperial

pillar cloths that garnered $7,475, and a Nineteenth Century Nanga School

Japanese scroll painting that sold for $2,415.

Skinner's next auction featuring Asian works of art will be held in Boston on

Saturday, October 30. For more information, call 978/779-6241.