“I am a long-time thrifter and go to a lot of estate and garage sales,” Cheryl Blackwell explained recently to appraiser James Flannery Jr. at a Trash or Treasure appraisal day held downtown at DuMouchelles auction house and gallery. “I found this at a garage sale about 10 years ago. I think it’s Japanese. I bought it because it looked good and I just loved the form,” she added.
“This” is a beautiful vase in a dark hue. Flannery, surprisingly, identified it as made of bronze and enamel but was unable to determine a maker. “I couldn’t find a mark on it,” he explained with regret after looking it over carefully at the event. “There is no studio or artist’s mark.”
He was able to pinpoint a date, saying that he believed the piece dated to the 1880s and the Meiji period. According to the website sakura.co, the Meiji period dated from 1868 to 1912 and “was a time of rapid change in Japan. During this time, the country purposefully transformed itself from a feudal society into a modern industrialized nation. The government introduced radical political, economic, educational and reforms.” It was also a period of strong growth for Japanese arts and culture, according to the website. “A rigid class system of farmers, artisans and merchants evolved, with the samurai maintaining order…. Japanese culture also became richer. Traditional arts, crafts and customs exploded.”
Flannery says many pieces from this era are marked with a date, but Blackwell’s piece is unusual. He explained that many Japanese pieces were imported into the United States after World War II, when there was a large uptick in interest in the area.
The appraiser said that whoever made it, the piece is both beautiful and well-made. “It’s definitely quality,” he told Blackwell. “It’s just bugging me that I can’t identify a maker. I would like to find out who did it.”
Even without knowing who made it, the piece would bring $400 to $600 at auction, the appraiser said. If they could identify a maker, that number could go up. He also praised the piece’s beautiful, deep plum color.
Blackwell intends to keep it. “It’s different,” she says. “I like the color.”
About this item
Item: Japanese bronze vase
Owned by: Cheryl Blackwell
Appraised by: James Flannery Jr., DuMouchelles
Estimated value: $400 to $600 at auction
Upcoming Appraisals
It’s that time again… if you’ve been waiting to send in your family heirlooms and garage sale treasures for a free appraisal, the time is now. We are currently scheduling appraisals in Troy and downtown Detroit for late June and accepting applications. Curious about something you have? Send a photograph with what you know about it to trashortreas@aol.com. Watch for dates and more information in future columns. If you and your item are chosen for one of a dozen appraisals at each location, we will be in touch.
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Trash or Treasure: Woman’s garage sale find is valuable Japanese vase
Reporting by Khristi Zimmeth, Special to The Detroit News / The Detroit News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
