Welcome to Cynthia Shaver Art Appraiser Newsletter March 2025,
The biggest event in February, was my husband Arthur Leeper, selected many books from his extensive library for the Society For Asian Art book sale next month. That means storage getting tidier.
I’m appraising a 53 piece Japanese skeleton motif, textile collection. Very rare. For sale by owner. Scholarly book by Jacqueline Atkins on 47 of the pieces. Put together over 30 years. Never was large scale production of textile cloth made, limited demand, rarely on market. I have found Japanese skeleton textiles in four museums out of the ten I asked. I spoke with five dealers and they all concur, rarely seen in marketplace. This has been true for over forty years. Native Japanese can’t imagine anyone wearing this motif. According to Jacqueline Atkins, these were ‘popular’ during 1920-1930’s Japan. This collection has kimono, haori, obi, naga-juban (think underwear like slip), firemen hanten and hakama (very full pleated men’s pants). All were worn by men.
Please enjoy the link: https://www.societyforasianart.org/programs/member-events/2025-annual-book-sale
Cynthia