£11,250 FOR TWO JAPANESE SCREENS

Otautau Standard and Wallace County Chronicle, Volume IX, Issue 427, 15 July 1913, Page 7

£11,250 FOR TWO JAPANESE SCREENS

The ' Ostasiatische Zeitschrift ' publishes details of a recent auction sale m Kyoto of the treasures of the famous temple of Nishi-Hongwanji. Many of the prices realised constituted, a record for Japan. Two folding screens decorated with iris flowers on a golden background, by the celebrated artist Korin (1661-1716), were sold for 225,000 niarks (£11,250). A picture of a Koto player, by Maxuyama Okyo (1733-1795), was sold for 25,000 . marks (£1,250), and another work by the same artist, having a waterfall as the subject, brought 12,000 marks (£600). The latter prices are reasonable m comparison with those realised for similar works m London and New York', but the real importance of the sale lies m the fact that nearly all the articles were bought by wealthy Japanese people, and will remain m the land of the people who. produced them. A still more remarkable price was the 45,000 marks (£2,250) paid for a small stone tea jar, used for special ceremonies m the temple, but m this case ite religious associations undoubtedly greatly enhanced the value of the article. Other high prioes were a set of lacquered incense jars, 15,000 marks (£750) ;-a iplate lacquered m red, 6,000 marks (£300); and a beautifully lacquered box, 10,000 marks (£500). Altogether' over 1,000,000 marks (£50,000) was realised. — Central News.

A resilient spring button, which relieves the strain on the trousers, the buttons, and the braces, has just been patented, says 'Men's Wear.'