Date: Fri 03-Jul-1998

Publication: Ant

Author: JUDYC

Quick Words:

Hiroshige

Full Text:

Hiroshige At JPAA

w/3 cuts

TOKYO, JAPAN -- Now into its second year, Japanese Print and Art Auction

(JPAA) held its spring public auction of Japanese prints and paintings on May

30 in Tokyo. Although only its third sale, more than 75 percent of the lots

sold for a total of nearly $450,000.

The auction room at the Forum building was full; attendance was up from the

second sale by nearly 20 percent. In addition, there was considerable

participation by absentee bidders. Lots were acquired by more than 80

different buyers. Interestingly, there was also a large contingent of young

collectors present.

Prints sold across the board. One of the highlights was "Wild Duck Swimming

Beneath Reeds in Snow" by Utagawa Hiroshige (est $36,000), which sold for

$68,000, a world-record price for this design.

A work by Utagawa Kuniyoshi, "Okane of Omi Province," reached $41,300. This

was one of the most remarkable impressions of this design ever seen. Another

design by Kuniyoshi, perhaps lesser known but of equally fine color and

condition is "Mount Fuji and the Sanno Festival," from the series "Thirty-six

Views of Mount Fuji from the Eastern Capital." It brought slightly over

$16,000 (est $5,700).

At the other end of the spectrum, there were more than 200 lots sold on a

"to-go" basis (all bidding commenced at the reserve and starting price of

$70). Of these, only one percent failed to sell. Once again, works by

Kuniyoshi fared extremely well, many selling for five or six times the

starting reserve price. Triptychs by Utagawa Kunisada fared even better,

bringing bids of about $700 each. The highest price attained in the "to-go"

section was $900 for the triptych "Matsuchiyama at Dusk Beneath Snow," 1896,

by Kaburagi Kiyochika.

The next JPAA auction is October 30 at the same location. For information,

212/799-4021.