Japanese Works of Art

Centuries of Craftsmanship
Our sales typically include bronzes, cloisonné enamels, lacquerware, screens, textiles, prints from the Edo and Meiji periods, Imari and Satsuma ceramics, ceramics by famous Mingei (folk) potters including Shoji Hamada and by contemporary masters.

Inherited collections
It was a particular privilege a few years ago to auction netsuke from the collection of Edmund de Waal, author of The Hare with Amber Eyes. We are pleased to help people sell single items or whole collections and often find ourselves assisting families in dispersing collections inherited from previous generations.

Japanese Arms and Armour
Olympia Auctions is known as a world leader and attracts strong international interest in its biannual sales of Antique Arms and Armour. These regularly include Japanese swords, blades and sword-fittings (tsuba), Samurai armour and the equipment associated with Samurai martial traditions, Japanese bows, arrows and archery accessories.

Stephen Loakes and our Specialist Team
Stephen Loakes leads our Japanese department, closely supported by world-leading specialists in netsuke, Meiji period ceramics and prints. Stephen comes to Olympia Auctions with more than 25 years’ experience, latterly as a Director in Sotheby’s Chinese Department. He takes pleasure in spotting the historic significance of an object as well as assessing its artistic excellence and is committed to giving every lot the same attention, no matter what the value. Stephen particularly enjoys putting together our annual November sale, scheduled to coincide with Asian Art in London week when dealers and collectors from around the world come to view.