The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-01-31
SESSHU'S SCREEN AT $4,000,
VIZ. FREER GETS WORK TOR
WHICH 4 PRINCE REFJ SEQ S2J ,OOO

Nr. wassaman's Great Sasamune sword
Goes for S0OO-Iow Price Rules for
the japanese Metal work. but the
Prints and the screens go Better.
Al Yesterdays two sessions of the Wag-
gaman auction, in the American Art Gal
leries the offerings were almost entirely
Japanese productions. The appreciation
Of them by the bidders was various and
uneven. The sword mounts, sword guards
swords, knives, knife handles and few
clolsonne enamels. which were sold In
the afternoon, brought no large prices,
although the range OF the prices paid
was fairly wide The enamels included
some pieces Of Chinese workmanship,
and these were the only offerings Of the day
which were not Of Japanese origin. Many
were the opportunities in the afternoon
to obtain knife handles and similar articles
at most satisfactory prices, even for utili-
tartan purposes, to say nothing Of artistic
aims
In the evening, when the Japanese prints
screens. kakemonos and albums were put
up. the prices we're better. on the whole
although the prices paid for works OF
we'll known and highly regarded artists
of Nippon we're a long way below the
figures at which such works are obtainable
at private sale.
The two most notable sales OF the day,
it may be said, were disappointing to the
enthusiastic supporters, both Of Mr.. Wag-
gaman 8 collection and Of Japanese achieve
ment in the arts. These we're the sales of
the famous Masamune sword and the great
uh,t ba in m of
and the other in the evening. But by the
same token the two purchases were most
happily regarded by the successful bid
ders, who secured notable objects at bar
gain figures.
There are persons in this city and else
where who cannot be shaken in their behef
that no good luck may come to the one who
buys in n strangers land statuette OF
Buddha no matter how much good the
statuette may do 10 the religious sectarian
in his own land; and these persons hesitate
to buy work Of art in that form art lovers
though they may be. IL would be an odd
development in the effect OF superstition
II il should turn ont that the ominous num-
Der OF the Masamune sword as oataiogued
-l3l3-had deferred bidders who might
have been expected to become competitors
for this fine product OF the Japanese
armorer's art, dating from the thirteenth
century. At all events, the bidding was
not ardent and the sword sold for $500 TO
c. Nick. Brown. II is by no means exag-
geration to say that official japanese repre-
sentatives have heretofore offered three or
four times this sum for the weapon which
they desired TO take back to Japan.
The Seeshu screen, Of fifteenth century
date, met with the reception often ac-
corded TO admired canvases that appear
in picture sales. When it was put up II was
greeted with applause. This was followed
t,,tt al II w xHa
bettered. and the bidding went up without
hesitancy to So 100 at which figure Charles
l.. Freer of Detroit got the prlze. The
auctioneer. Mr.. Kirby, congratulated the
buyer. at the same time that he told him
frankly that he was sorry that he didn't
have TO pay more for it. Mr.. Kirby added,
however, referring 10 Mr.. .Freers recent
offer of his art collection to the Smithsonian
Institution, under conditions that, We'll
all have the benefit OF that screen some
day" whereupon there was rather feeble
renewal of the applause.
The screen is one brought 70 this country
by Prince Sirasu. who wanted it is said.
ss5 600 for il. refused $4,000 for It. and
later pared with IL at Il figure not low In
the thousands.
Among Mr.. Freer's other purchases at
the evening sale were Kakemono by Okio,
OF the ighteenth century, for 500; screen
by korin for $40. and a pair OF screens
(93 ofthe cataloRuel for 1890.
Any eNnPCtant buyers VINO went 10 tne
sale expecting the low prices that japanese
prints have some times brought at auction
were early disilusioned, for No. or the
catalogue n seventeenth century print OF
Moronubu. went up quickly to $3.50. A
Utamaro print Of girls in the kitchen sold
at sos; an actor print of the Shunsho school
at $3.50; an Utamaro print Of three figures
at SIPS; pair OF panels by Tanyu at 1870;
a Hokusai print OK the Fuji series for $40.
Payne Whitney bought an eighteenth CEN
fury kakemono showing branch OF a plum
tree in blossom, for Sl7.5O; a sixteenth CEN
fury Kakemono showing The Three Laugh
ers' for Sl2 50, and a nineteenth century
Kakemono by lppo for SIS
In the afternoon a sword by Muramaaa,
OF the fourteenth century. sold TO T. K. II.
Curtis for 500. il Is said to have cost
Mr.. Waggaman twice that sum. or more.
Mr. Curtis also bought two swords for Si20.
long sword OF the fourteenth century
went ut $50: ono of the twelfth century
at $40. and Chinese cloisonn6 vase with
bronze rams heads, catalogued az of the
Ming dynasty which was illustrated in
THE Sun last Sunday. at $500 Louis Stern
bought large champleve jar, of Chen
lung, for 500.
The afternoon sales amounted to 81. $3.50,
or an average Of about S27. 50 per catalogue
lot Tho evenings total was s. b4s