On 6 November in London, Sotheby’s will hold a Japanese Art sale showcasing five centuries of Japanese artistry and craftsmanship, adding to the company’s history of important sales in the category. The auction will present a curated group of fine works of art from distinguished Asian, European and American private collections, including lacquer, ceramics, enamels, woodblock prints, armours and swords.

Henry Howard-Sneyd, Sotheby's Chairman of Asian Art, Europe and Americas, said: “It is very rewarding to bring Japanese art auctions back to Sotheby’s after an interlude of over 10 years. The obvious quality and dazzling variety of the art on display in this sale fabulously illustrates the richness of this extraordinary culture.”

Mark Hinton, Sotheby’s Senior Japanese Art Consultant, commented: “We are thrilled to present a tremendous array of material in our first Japanese Art sale in a decade, led by the spectacular, incredibly detailed imperial presentation lacquer screens which come to the market with distinguished provenance. The sale includes a wonderful collection of samurai art, a group of lacquer objects from the Drs. Edmund J. and Julie Lewis Collection, elegant Japanese porcelain with a particularly refined English country house taste, and a superb print by Sharaku, one of the masterpieces of his half-length portraits. We have carefully chosen material that appeals to today’s collectors, with a high level of quality and provenance in mind.”

v  A Magnificent Pair of Imperial Presentation Lacquer Two-Fold Screens, Meiji Period, Late 19th Century
Estimate £500,000-700,000

v  A Nanban Lacquer Shrine, Momoyama Period, 16th Century
Estimate £70,000-100,000

v  A Very Large Shoki Imari Dish, Edo Period, 1630-1640s
Estimate £150,000-180,000

v  A Fine and Rare Kakiemon Vase, Edo Period, Late 17th Century
Estimate £60,000-80,000

v  Toshusai Sharaku (Active 1794-1795), Portrait of the Actor Segawa Kikunojo III as Oshizu, from the Play Hana-Ayame Bunroku Soga
Woodblock print, signed Toshusai Sharaku ga, published by Tsutaya Juzaburo, 5th month, 1794
Estimate £180,000-250,000

v  An Imperial Presentation Suzuribako [Writing Box], Meiji Period, Early 20th Century
Estimate £80,000-100,000

v  A Nimai-Dō Gusoku [Armour], Edo Period, 18th - 19th Century
Estimate £70,000-90,000

v  A Very Fine Hon-Kozane Tachi-Do Gusoku [Armour], Edo Period, 17th Century
Estimate £60,000-80,000

v  Ogawa Haritsu (Ritsuo) (1663-1747), A Pair of Rare Wood Sculptures of Nio, Edo Period, Late 17th - Early 18th Century, each sealed Ritsuo
Estimate £80,000-100,000