“My participation in the showcase at TEFAF 2020 was a milestone in my career, it was a chance to show the art world the beauty and appeal of arms & armour, I was thrilled with the response, and since I have been accepted as a full TEFAF exhibitor, so I will be exhibiting with a full stand in Maastricht (25-30 June).”

“Asian artworks can be a help for yoga or meditation. They can help us to connect with others, to be more compassionate, or to accept reality with more serenity. They have a universal appeal because of their authenticity and purity.”

"If you could have dinner with any three artists, living or dead, who would you choose?
I would choose Shibata Zeshin (1807-1891), a Japanese lacquer artist and painter.
Ogata Korin (1658-1716), also lacquerer and painter, as well as textile designer.
Kobori Enshu (1579-1647), tea ceremony master, painter, ikebana master, poet and garden designer. "

“I first became infatuated with Japan in the late 70’s when I was working as a sales clerk at Christie`s King Street London. I then went on to work for one of the leading dealers in Japanese art circa 1979 and eventually lived in Japan for a short time in the early 80’s. The single most influential experience was the Great Japan Exhibition at the Royal Academy in 1981 I was completely hooked after seeing that.”

"Another discovery that appeared on the cover of an important museum exhibition was royal-style, yellow silk robe from Okinawa. I had bought an assorted group of Japanese textile fragments at an auction, and after examining the fragments, I realized that several pieces were parts of a rare robe. After determining the original construction of the garment, it became evident that there were some missing parts..."

"We have indeed an apartment completely dedicated to the Gallery. We appreciate welcoming our clients in this more private or intimate environment. Collectors can also come and see the artworks in natural light and project themselves as if they were at home.This is definitely a very unique configuration in Paris."

Descri"You are A renown jewellery expert, what is the item which caused your ‘eyes to pop and your jaw to drop?
Too many to list here one more marvellous than the next but currently a navartana belt buckle inset with the 9 holy stones arranged in the most dramatic style, the reverse enamelled with magnificent enamelling. It is believed to be from the Aurangzeb Period and the quality does suggest that the Emperor himself may have owned it. "

"I believe that it is collectors who « make works of art ». Without their interest and their passion for the objects, many works would have disappeared. And it is thanks to their generosity when they donate their collections to museums that the public can enjoy the works."

"Visitors are first confronted to an impressive image of the fierce form of Shiva, a meter tall granite sculpture of Bhairava, formerly in the Vérité collection."

"While some collectors focus on diversifying their assets from an investment standpoint, many have a genuine interest in the art and this informs which genres and themes they look for. Thus, it is their vision and creativity that ultimately determines the contents of their collection, making each collection unique. "

“When it comes to choosing a new artwork, first of all, I completely trust my instinct. Only in a second step I am judging authenticity, quality and style. This way I found some of my most interesting, unusual objects. Like the extremely rare Shintō pilgrim mask in this catalog. When I saw it, I felt instantly that I need to buy it – not knowing anything about it. I even asked some international specialists from museums, but they couldn’t help, since it is a completely undiscovered field. Upon my own research I found a Hiroshige woodblock print from around 1834 with the detail of a pilgrim carrying such a mask in a portable shrine on his back – imagine the breathtaking moment I had! "

"Éloge de la Lumière – In praise of light is on display till March 27 at the Baur Foundation in Geneva. Can you tell us more about this exhibition?
This exhibition is above all a kind of conversation, or dialog, between the works of major French artist
Pierre Soulages, who just celebrated his 102nd birthday, and those of internationally acclaimed bamboo artist Tanabe Chikuunsai IV. The juxtaposition of Soulages’ “black light” with the transparence of Tanabe’s woven bamboo pieces takes us to another and very spiritual world. As the master has said, “Bamboo has knots, which are called yo in Japanese. These knots are considered to be the borders between different worlds… / … and the spaces between the knots represent the eternal world…” Indeed – a world in which the connection between Soulages’ black and Tanabe’s bamboo enchants us. "

The Kirknorton Collection was built by a British
lawyer who moved to Hong Kong in 1968 and has remained here since. In the 1970’s he began buying Chinese works of art, but was drawn to smaller jade carvings, particularly animals, an area I specialise in.

“My collection at this point is eclectic. I have sculptural objects, textiles (of course )and ethnographic artefacts which come from all over the world but somehow relate to one another because they were all chosen by the same pair of eyes. Most collectors have a vision of sorts; an innate sense of how things should look.”

"I am interested in the intrinsic value and artistic excellence of sculpture in general. Nies Fine Art is a unification of the art fields that are important to me and that I have built expertise in. The eclectic approach suits my taste. Whilst I have taken on three major fields within art, the key for me is to keep it focused and consider the sculptural quality and history in detail. Also, interesting dialogues arise by placing a European work next to an Asian or African sculpture, which is forever fascinating. "

“One of the best things about being a dealer is having to expose myself constantly to new and different objects. Almost everything I handle is unique, so I am constantly learning, always questioning different aspects of each and every work. I am lucky that I get to travel quite a lot, and have the chance to immerse myself in different cultures, visiting dealers, collectors and museums.”