Guy De Lasteyrie Collection Achieved €1.2 Million at First Bonhams Japanese Auction in Paris

Paris – The remarkable collection of Guy de Lasteyrie achieved more than €1.2 million yesterday at Bonhams Cornette de Saint Cyr with 78% lots sold against a pre-sale estimate of €575,000-750,000 (14 June).  This first auction of Japanese art at Bonhams Cornette de Saint Cyr in Paris was composed of 181 lots, chiefly netsuke (toggles) and other small-scale decorative objects sported by wealthy townsmen during the Edo period (1615-1868). All top 10 lots from the sale sold above their pre-sale high estimate.

The top lot of the collection was a wood Netsuke of a mounted Chinese horseman by Hoshin, Kyoto, late 18th century which sold for €127,400, more than seven times its pre-sale estimate of €18,000-25,000.  Another model depicting an elephant and a karako (little boy) by Tsuji, Osaka, mid/late 18th century doubled its estimate of €25,000 – €35,000 and sold for €70,250.

Tigers were the stars of this sale, with a wood netsuke of a tiger by Tomokazu, Gifu, mid-19^th century, which sold for €63,900, as well as a wood netsuke of a tiger eating a bamboo shoot by Matsuda Sukenaga, Takayama, Hida Province, early 19^th century, which sold for five times its estimate for €51,900.

Other highlights of the sale included:

• A wood netsuke of a recumbent Bactrian camel by Hogen Tadayoshi, early/mid-19^th century sold for €51,200 (estimate: €25,000-€30,000)
• A wood netsuke of a Tsukumo-gami by Shugetsu, late 18^th/early 19^th century sold for €44,800 (estimate: €25,000-€30,000)
• A wood netsuke of Okame (Goddess of mirth) by Sansho, late 19^th century sold for €40,960 (estimate: €12,000-€18,000)
• A sarumawashi (monkey trainer and showman) by Matsushita Otoman, Hakata, 19th century sold for €38,400 (estimate: €12,000-€18,000)

Suzanna Yip, Bonhams Director of Japanese Department, said: “The de Lasteyrie Collection is considered to be the finest examples of netsuke in France.  Guy was known to countless enthusiasts in the field and was recognised for his passion and depth of knowledge in netsuke. A wonderful collection that thoroughly deserved such wonderful results.”