Japanse antique fair

9 February 2019

Today on the program a visit to an antique fair in Tokyo. There are hardly any antique shops in Tokyo, but every now and then there are fairs where traders from the wider area display their antiques. In the fifth storey of a boring tower building it appears that the complete floor has been rented and furnished with stalls. On arriving there was already a line of interested people waiting on the opening. It is fascinating to see how different the selection is than in Europe: a lot of ceramics and porcelain, but then typical in the local taste and furthermore crafts. In the area of the Japanese pipe, the kiseru, there is everything for sale, also for the advanced collector that we are. We left the place with some fine purchases but learned a lot as well.

Tobacco & Salt Museum

5 February 2019

Today Benedict Goes en Don Duco made a visit to the famous Tobacco & Salt Museum in Tokyo. This museum in Japan is one of the largest museums on this theme in the world, so a visit was on our bucket list for a long time. Since 2015 the museum has got a brand new premises just next to the research institute of the tobacco firm that pays for the museum. We talked with senior curator Reiko Sakaki about cooperation in digitizing the collections. Afterwards we made a tour through the spacious museum exhibition. A wonderful and learning experience.