Amazon.com: The Cohen Collection (9780953934102): Niel K. Davey, Robert Hall, John Neville Cohen, Neil K. Davey, John Cohen: Books

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

Trudy and John have been collectors for many years, John's father originally influenced him, an enthusiastic collector, many collectors will know of his father's publication "In search of Netsuke & inro" by George Cohen. This lovely book is now out of print and when a second hand one, in good condition, is found the price is likely to be in the region of £80.00 or more. John & Trudy decided they would like to publish their own collection, and to also include 20 netsuke & inro that George Cohen has kept back, after selling the main part of his collection. There are also a number of netsuke, inro and boxes that were purchased by John & Trudy that have not been published before. The low cost of publishing a CD-ROM, plus the interactive advantages, tempted them to proceed.

This interactive, reference work, of what is an exceptional collection has been a pleasure to create. Consisting of a total of 305 Chinese and Japanese works of art including - 57 netsuke (with a collection of zodiac signs both in wood and ivory), 32 superb inro & 19 lacquer boxes, 82 Snuffbottles, 74 Pendants, 25 Jade & hardstone carvings. Plus some fine miscellaneous works of art that include a really superb ivory Okimono of Kinko, lacquer ceremonial dagger and combs, an ivory fan, and even a carved ostrich egg.

Neil K. Davey and Robert Hall, the worlds leading experts, have provided introductions and detailed descriptions (with interesting and important new reference notes) on the subject matter, workmanship, and the artists. Together with the 645 colour photographs (including close-ups of signatures and seals) that make this an easy to use, fascinating, and beautiful way of sharing such works of art. There are also articles by Clare Chu, Michael Dean, Roger Keverne and Richard Marchant.

Many of these antiques have never been published before and this reference study is likely to prove invaluable to any serious collector. There are few publications that include such specialised Chinese & Japanese antiques but it is surprising how well these small personal handling pieces compliment each other. To quote from Neil K. Davey's introduction "All of the small pieces within the collection are highly personal whether worn, handled, or made purely for use. The quality of work, subject to such very close inspection, rather than for display had, of necessity, to be the finest possible."

We designed this CD-ROM so that anyone, even those with hardly any computer skills, will immediately be able to use it. There are certain advantages in this digital form of publication, the search facility is very fast, any part can be printed out, or copied, at the touch of a button. You can enjoy a slide show, of any section, and even set how long each image remains on screen! Having so many photographs if it had been a book, it would have been very expensive to produce, been huge and far too heavy! The photography is very professional and providing it is viewed at 1024 x 728 resolution (in other words on not too small a screen) the definition is all one could possibly wish for.

From the Author

Neil K. Davey referring to the Japanese part of the collection. "There are fine examples from Kyoto, Osaka, Edo, Nagoya, Gifu and Hakata, as well as unsigned and unattributable pieces from the early 18th to the late 19th century . . . By some standards the collection is not large. However, it does not need to be, there is much to be said for quality, rather than quantity and the present collection has the former in abundance."

"All of the small pieces within the collection are highly personal whether worn, handled, or made purely for use. The quality of work, subject to such very close inspection, rather than for display had, of necessity, to be the finest possible."

Robert Hall referring to the Chinese part of the collection. "It is a tribute to their artistic awareness that they have been able to assemble so many works of art in these two areas, while maintaining the common bonds of excellent workmanship, charming subject matter and, above all, that elusive bit of 'magic' (for want of a better word) that turns an inanimate object into something special and important."

"The collection is notable for its supreme quality, proof of the Cohens' dedication to seeking only those objects that are artistically as well as technically brilliant. What is perhaps even more remarkable, however, is that most of the works in the collection possess a certain light-heartedness, a slight touch of whimsy, which faithfully reflect the spontaneous good humour and cheerfulness of their owners, whose lives are full of fun."

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