It's not uncommon for collectors — both experienced and novice —
to be intimidated by Asian art. That's unfortunate because this
fascinating field offers collectors many advantages over more conventional disciplines.
Scholarship in Asian Art increased
dramatically during the past 30 years; today, interesting, easy-to-read
and accurate books are readily available. Indeed, Asian art is one of the
few remaining fields where a little knowledge goes a long way.
It is still possible to discover objects that others have missed, and it
is not necessary to speak any of the languages to collect Asian art
seriously. Although, the ability to read a few signatures is a great help,
most pocket guides are enough to get started as a collector.
HOMEWORK
As in any field, before you spend any money, do a bit of homework. Most
major museums have some Asian art, and these are good places to start.
Every antiques show will have Asian works of art, generally ranging from
Chinese export porcelain to furniture to painted pottery tomb figures.
Most dealers and auction specialists are eager to cultivate a potential
client and generally are happy to share their knowledge. Remember the old
saw: opinions are like noses — everyone has one. Translation: Listen,
think, and take all information with a healthy dose of common sense.
These rules apply to collecting in any field, including Asian art:
Do your homework
Ask questions and know what the "going" rate is for this type of art
Buy the best example you can afford and in the best condition
Buy what you love; chances are if you love it, someone else will love it too.
Try Specializing
Some collectors confine themselves to art of a particular country or
region; others are interested in a specific medium (porcelain or jade);
and still others concentrate on objects created during a certain time
period. The choice is totally personal, and there is no better way to
collect than to buy the things you love.
There is a long tradition of collecting Asian art in the West. In fact,
certain disciplines, such as Japanese netsuke and Chinese tomb pottery
fetch higher prices in the West than in their countries of origin.
Collectors Vary
It is interesting to note that most major American collectors of the 20th
century, regardless of their main collecting focus, have had some Asian
objects among their holdings. DuPont, Morgan, Chrysler, and Rockefeller
all had Chinese porcelain, jade, and Japanese works of art among their
collections. Chinese and Japanese art influenced the Impressionist
painters and many other Western artists, the designs of Louis Comfort
Tiffany, and the Tiffany silversmiths.
However, it was not only the super-rich who formed important Asian
collections. Typically, most collectors of Asian art come to the field
after having had some type of Western collection. As a result, the
majority of them are passionate about their collections, eager to share
their knowledge, and self-assured enough to collect in a field that most
people do not understand. Collectors interested in Asian art can find
objects at all price points, and from a wide variety of sources.
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Why Collect Asian Art?
