JAPANESE ART TREASURES.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXVII, Issue 5372, 3 September 1904, Page 11

JAPANESE ART TREASURES.

DONATION TO STANFORD UNIVERSITY. A SUPERB COLLECTIONA! superb collection of Japanese art • treasures has been purchased by Mrs Stanford, of California., and presented •lo the Stanford University museum. In 1003 ono Ikodu, died at Kyoto, Japan, leaving a largo estate. Ikcda had occupied a position for many years as one ■of the foremost art connoisseurs of Japan. At Kyoto bo owned extensive potteries and in some of the larger cities such as Tokio ho maintained noted art and curio stores. Ho was fumed as u collector throughout tho Orient and made annual tours into Asia to mid new* material lo his rich treasures- 'fire choicest bits of pottery and other materials that Ikcda secured err these visits he invariably retained lor iris own personal collection, which ho kept in iris magnificent residence at Kyoto. There ho had amassed a- rare group of beautiful elorssonne, satsunra and aga.no wares, handsome lacquers, rich bronsses, carver! ivories and many other articles of curious and bcuuiiiut interest. His homo was a veritable treasiu;c-house of the richest products •of Oriental handicraft. Some of these valuable fancies were family relics that had been handed down from ancient generations, others were odtl, old images Irdrn China, a.rrd Micro were pieces of historic painting" at almost priceless worth. It was said by those who know* ikeda’s collection that it rivaled some of lire imperial Ireasnrcs of state. Upon Urn death of tho aged collector all his possessions were given into tire hands of his faithful wife, who determined to devote those treasures lo a memorial oi tier husband. lire outbreak of tiro Japancse- It ll ssian war gave her a motive and siro decided to sell tire family valuables and turn the proipeeds over to the war fund. Thus it ivaa that they came to San Francisco. Exactly what Mrs Stanford paid tor tho ■on biro collection is nob kno wig but it is understood the sum was considerably more than £20,000. A cheque tor the amount, was sent directly to tho Mikado. This is the simple story of how a rich American widow ultimately contributed to the Japanese war fund and probably despoiled a European museum of a famous collection. RARE KYOTO WARE.

Nearly every famous artist of Japan, hoth modern and ancient;, is represented. Some of the most interesting pieces nro figures of Japanese mythological characters. These are extremely odd and many of them of great age. One ■of the rarest of theso is an ancient example of Kyoto ware. Tho legendary fox is depicted as an old man in longflowing robes and a strange hood. Ho tarries a parasol and a cane. It is tile handiwork of Nonomura Ninsci, a celebrated artist in this ware, which was produced about 1655 A.]>. Tho most notable piece of cloissonno in the whole exhibition is u huge inDenso burner, or koro, of tho Ohionling •period. It is globular in shape, supported by three short gold legs, wit li a fret-worked cover surmounted by conventionalised lotus blossoms. Tiie body of the koro is of a dull light-blue, the arnamonte, consisting of flowers and .iscrolhvork designs, are worked out in White, rod, green and dark blue enamels. On the cover appears a crest thrice repeated. The handles are unique, in tho form of a blocked dragon, with sides finished in burnished gold. Tho whole islands on a base of similar workmannhip. VASE OF DIAEI WARE. Another beautiful porcelain is a vase of Imari waro, made in Hizen province in 1596. The exceptional point about the vaso is tho decoration.- While tho mrchaio pattern is principally followed, two different methods are employed. The design is alike on each side. At the base, on a jot black background, is shown a Chinese lion, or karashishi, in a crouching attitude guarding a double crest. Tho whole is framed in white with border of blue. Immediately above, over tho glaze, is depicted the imperial ho-ho bird, or royal pheasant, /surmounted by sprays of the wonderful kin tree. Altogether tho vaso is an intensely interesting pieoe of tho oldsymluolic pottery. The most highly prized part of tho collection is made up of several gorge ous screens of very ancient workmanship, Each has six folding panels, whic-h bear wonderful paintings from the ■hands of old Japanese masters. Although these ancient masterpieces show marks of great ago, tney are remarkably well preserved. They were designed originally ns decorations for the imperial palace of Mono Yaraa, built at Fusliimi in the sixteenth century. More than 200 years ago two of these screens were appraised at a value of 2000 yen, equivalent now to £2OO, but perhaps then equal to twice that sum. ' 1

A second rara avis of tie exhibition Ss a vase of the world-famed “peach blow” pottery. This is a certain tint and glaze of delicate pink originated by a Chinese potter centuries ago and since lost to the world. Only two other specimens of this rare and costly ware are known to exist in the United States. One of these was bought for £4OOO, and the other, a very small specimen, sold in Now York recently at the startling figure of £3500. The exact value i»f the Stanford piece is not known.