Michael Dean

The Trudy and John Cohen Collection of Japanese Combs

by

Michael Dean

This web is a very enterprising use of the new technology and gives a good overall view of the collection.

As you know most of your collection of Japanese Lacquer is of the later period and I tend to specialise in earlier work, but there is a wide range of techniques displayed on your pieces and the quality seems to be uniformly high. It is difficult for me to comment on pieces which I have not seen, and the only ones I have seen are those you bought from me. It is interesting to see, however, that where combs are concerned, you have confined yourself entirely to the earlier pieces, of excellent quality and in fine condition.

The result is a small but impressive collection of combs, (L52 to L58) the quality of which approaches that of inro. I have only once seen another collection of this number, period, quality and condition - a private collection in this country. There are earlier combs but, at least outside Japan, they are very seldom seen. Most of the later and more common examples, of thin cheap lacquer on wood, lacquered tortoiseshell, lacquered ivory and other similar materials and techniques, are later than yours and usually of much inferior quality. They are usually of the Meiji period, whereas I think yours date mainly from the late 18th century to the mid.19th century.

It seems probable that most of the combs brought from Japan by tourists were not bought as works of art but as 'curiosities' and therefore never graced the important art collections.

I know (and congratulate you on the fact) that you have bought only the best Japanese combs, and discarded inferior examples in forming your collection. It has always seemed to me that a small collection of only the finest pieces makes a far better art collection than one double the size but with mediocre pieces mixed in with the best. I also believe that it is a better accolade to the fine arts of the nation it represents.

Michael Dean

25 Methuen Park
London N10 2JR
England