Collecting Japanese Antiques

Collecting Japanese Antiques is an excellent overview of the Japanese aesthetic, an aesthetic unique to that island nation. Antique hunters will benefit from the practical and cautionary advice in this book; newcomers will appreciate information on the basics of collecting; while other sections might reawaken interest in experienced collectors, all supplemented with beautiful photographs.

This comprehensive and readable guide features over 500 beautiful color photographs, and begins with brief introductions to both Japan's art heritage, and to the practice of collecting. The book is organized by type of artifact, such as screens & scrolls, prints, ceramics, furniture, textiles, armor, cloisonné, lacquerware, dolls, and tea ceremony utensils, and includes historical background, descriptions of technique, and practical advice to collectors. The format is oversize (9.25x12.25"). Annotation ©2005 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

Alistair Seton graduated from Oxford University and Aberdeen College of Education before moving to Japan in 1972. He is a professor at Tezukayama Gakuin University, and lives in Kobe with his family.