A selection of Michael Barrett’s Japanese cloisonné enamel vases from the Meiji period, Seven Treasures: Japanese Cloisonné from the Collection of Michael Barrett Showcase Auction #12160
Seven Treasures: Japanese Cloisonné from the Collection of Michael Barrett Showcase Auction #12160
Thursday, September 25, 2025 at 11am EDT
2801 W. Airport Freeway Dallas
Heritage Auction is pleased to present a well-curated collection of Japanese and Chinese cloisonné from Michael Barrett, the celebrated New York club owner best remembered for the legendary China Club, where musical icons such as David Bowie, Elton John, Sting, Stevie Wonder, and Prince performed. Beyond his role as an impresario, Barrett nurtured a discerning eye for art and design, with a particular passion for Japanese cloisonné. Known in Japan as shippo-yaki, or “Seven Treasures,” the term derives from Buddhist texts that list seven precious materials—gold, silver, lapis lazuli, crystal, agate, coral, and pearl—suggesting a brilliance and rarity embodied in these luminous works. In cloisonné, delicate metal wires define compartments that are filled with enamel pastes, then fired to achieve jewel-like surfaces. From the mid-19th century onward, Japanese artisans perfected this technique, producing objects admired at world expositions and collected across Europe and America. The pieces in Barrett’s collection exemplify this golden age: vases, plaques, and vessels of luminous color, intricate detail, and extraordinary technical mastery.
Utagawa Sadahide (Japanese, 1807-1873), Dragon and Tiger (Ryū to Tora) (triptych), circa 1870, woodblock print embellished with silver mica, 13-3/4 x 9-1/2 in. (34.9 x 24.1 cm) (each sheet, oban), Lot #30059, estimate: US$7,000-10,000, Japanese Woodblock Prints from The Nelkin Collection Showcase Auction #15255
Japanese Woodblock Prints from The Nelkin Collection Showcase Auction #15255
Tuesday, September 30, 2025 at 11am EDT
2801 W. Airport Freeway Dallas
To honor and extend the legacy of Ms. Ruth Nelkin’s distinguished Japanese print collection, they are proud to present a curated selection of Ukiyo-e and Shin-hanga prints. This auction features works by renowned Japanese printmakers, including Utagawa Sadahide, Utagawa Hiroshige, Tobayashi Kiyochika, Yamamura Koka (Toyonari), Yoshida Fujio, and many others. The auction also offers a great selection of Ms. Nelkin’s library and book collections, including various reference books on Japanese woodblock prints and culture, as well as works by renowned artists such as Hokusai and Hiroshige, and catalogs from major museum and private collections. This will be the last auction dedicated to the Nelkin collection, so don’t miss your chance to acquire a desirable piece!
