Sotheby’s is proud to present the Art of Japan online auction this 29 October – 5 November 2024. From horses to waterfalls, an exotic box with playing cards and a lacquer ewer and basin from a grand ‘buffet’ of a 17^th century banquet, the sale encompasses design from the 12^th century to today. The pair of Horses in Stable screens from the 17^th century capture everyday life with visitors playing go, shogi and sugoroku, grooms taking a rest from their work or sweeping stable floors. Another pair of screens by Tosa Mitsunari depict quails among millet and in flight before a full moon on a rich gold ground. From private collections, dramatic armour with helmets derived from mythic forms and swords forged by important smiths encased in finely decorated scabbard and mounts. The painting medium and its materiality is explored by an enigmatic large-scale work depicting multiple shadows of a child from Takamatsu Jiro’s Shadow Painting series. An impressive cascade of falling water by Senju Hiroshi emanates from a silvery void – an ode of the Japanese painting tradition where motifs of nature continue to inspire with primordial force. From elegance and richness, we display the white ceramics of Kuroda Taizo, forms of pure simplicity and subtlety. 

For assistance with bidding and registration, please contact:

Bids.london@sothebys.com

(+44) 207 293 5283 (bids general line)

For all sale enquiries please contact:

Mark Hinton

Director

Head of Japanese Works of Art

+44 20 7293 6537

MARK.HINTON@SOTHEBYS.COM

Jon Adjetey

Associate Specialist

Japanese Works of Art

+44 20 7293 6325

JON.ADJETEY@SOTHEBYS.COM 

Connie Chau

Administrator

Pre-Sale Administration

+44 20 7293 5721

CONNIE.CHAU@SOTHEBYS.COM