Western Morning News (Saturday)
Third Asian Sale is set to be a huge draw
PENZANCE auctioneers David Lay’s are about to hold its third Asian Sale on October 29, at 10am.
These dedicated Asian sales have been hugely successful, but they can also pose some exciting challenges as Lay’s Asian Sale expert Darren Ashley explains. “The global appetite for Chinese art and antiques is huge and buyers from all around the world will frantically compete online to snap up the best pieces. There are some wonderful treasures tucked away in Cornish attics but our Westcountry location makes no difference to motivated buyers.”
Some of the auction house’s biggest challenges can be ensuring that the client who may be in Shanghai or Azerbaijan, pays up in a timely fashion (this can be complex for many different reasons) and can then safely receive their winning lots on the other side of the world with no damage.
“It can be hard work pulling all these threads together, but that is all part of the service! Having some friendly Japanese and Chinese speakers who we can call on is a big help, as is working with some excellent local and international carriage companies,” Darren added.
The star lot in Lay’s next Asian sale is a truly exceptional Japanese ‘Shodana’ cabinet. This cabinet was made in the the Meiji period (18681912) and is signed Shoso Kosen. He must have been a remarkable craftsman because the quality of the work is incredible. As well as beautiful ivory panels and inlaid bone, mother of pearl, lacquer animals, flowers and family scenes there are numerous insects such as preying mantises and beetles adorning the woodwork.
It is a visual feast and the quality of this piece is reflected in its £30,000-50,000 estimate. Darren said: “We love setting up these sales - the saleroom always looks so beautiful. We have dozens of Persian rugs which are hung around the walls, we create areas of interest with low Asian and Islamic furniture and decorate them with some of the beautiful bronzes and ceramics that feature in the sale, it’s all very zen and makes the saleroom a lovely calming space!”
David Lay holds socially distanced viewings in its saleroom for all its specialist sales and encourage clients to call 01736 361414 to book a slot. The whole sale can be viewed online at www.davidlay. co.uk. As it is an online only sale there will be no public in the room on sale day, but clients can watch and interact with the sale via the website.