FEATURES ARCHIVE

Oriental objects of art hold a rather unique fascination. Do you remember the first time you were captivated by a piece of Oriental art?
I studied for my BA at SOAS (School of Oriental and Asian Studies) and it was there that I developed a real fascination for Japanese mythology and legends which were expressed throughout their art from ceramics to prints. After joining Christie’s as an Intern in the Asian Art department and later becoming a specialist, I developed a particular fascination for Netsuke. As Japanese clothing did not have pockets, Japanese men would store their personal belongings in small pouches. Netsuke were small figurines which served a practical purpose as the fasteners or toggles on these pouches. Over time they became increasingly elaborate and decorative; artworks in their own right.

What do you find are the most popular pieces with clients in your sales?
Taste is very personal but many people recognize the beauty of Japanese kakimono, which are hanging scroll paintings. We are also finding that bronze Buddha figures, some of which are actually quite large, are also proving very popular. Also of huge appeal are Tang (1618-906) horses which were originally funerary figures. It is the quiet elegance and realism of these beautiful pieces which is so captivating.

We now see many interior designers fusing old and new pieces, contemporary and vintage, where do you see Oriental art within this?
Japanese art and design in particular has always had a very clean and simple aesthetic. The striking geometric ceramics, with bold glazes in moss green, ‘sang de bouef ’ (a glossy, rich blood-red colour) or monochrome, and the early 20th Century prints which feature in our sales would fit in seamlessly in a modern interior, whilst the more traditional even elaborate Chinese ceramics we regularly feature would offer a striking contrast.

You must have come across some hidden treasures at the front counter in South Kensington?
It is immensely exciting when something new comes in and you are constantly surprised and challenged in what you come across. It is, in essence, detective work: you are working with your existing knowledge whilst learning new things all the time. For me, there is always a joy in finding something which no one else has appreciated such as a fantastic 14th Century Tibetan Buddha which came in and was in quite poor condition: a previous owner had tried to clean it with acid and taken off the outer layers! Nevertheless, it remained an exquisite piece, which we put in the sale for £500-800. It sold for £2,000 and I was overjoyed that someone else had appreciated the incredible beauty of this piece as much as I did. On another occasion, a gentleman brought in a 17th Century Arita (named after the location of its production) porcelain figure of a Bijin (beautiful woman), which he had come across in a car boot sale. He asked me what I thought and although I exercised caution in my response until I had carried out more in-depth research, I knew it was special. We put an estimate of £20,000-30,000 on it and during the sale I was on the edge of my seat. It sold for £44,000.

As you have mentioned Asian Art is a broad category, encompassing various cultures, eras and materials. Where does a novice start?
I would suggest that you come to a viewing and show us what you like. You need to connect with a piece – see it, hold it, fall in love with it. It is all about the sight and the feel of a piece – the size, the unctuous glazes, the vibrant colours… In essence, try before you buy! For example, if you like blue and white porcelain, I can select a few pieces from a vast 700 year period and describe the history of the piece to you. Above all it is about you and your taste – go for what you like!