International Antiques Fair (IAF) will open its door tonight in Hall 5BC Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, featuring eight lectures by prominent speakers to shed light on various topics from Chines glassware, Japanese art, silver art, Mingei etc.

Besides those we previously introduced, a new lecture on Buddhism and tea culture will be added to the seminar timetable. For anyone interested in attending the talks, don’t forget to reserve your seat through an early registration since there are only 50 seats available for each session.

Soshin Kimura, Grand Tea Mastar of Hoshinkai

Tenmoku tea bowl

Celadon tea bowl

Master of tea ceremony Soshin Kimura began learning sado (the way of tea/ tea ceremony) from childhood and established the Hoshinkai school in 1997. He presides over keikoba (practice halls) in Kyoto and Tokyo. At the same time, he is actively involved in writing on the theme of tea in various affiliated media and in direction/production of exhibitions. Mr. Kimura frequently collaborates with creators/designers inside and outside Japan, and takes these opportunities to promote and popularize understanding of the sado world from various approaches.

Scheduled to be held on 26 May at 3 - 4pm in the area the enterance, this additional lecture focuses on the theme "Relationship between Buddhism(especially Zen), Tea(Cha-no-yu) and Art". Maccha and Japanese sweets will be served for participants to fully experience the spirit and culture of tea ceremony. Participants will also get the chance to appreciate some art pieces that Mr Kimura brings along.

Lecture at International Antiques Fair last year

After the VIP night today, Internatonal Antiques Fair will open to public for free from 25 - 28 May with a line up of lectures by specialists and experts in the industry. Kicking off the series is going to be Graces of Ancient Chinese Glassware by Prof. Qi Dong Fang, Professor of Peking University, School of Archaeology and Museology. The topic covered in the lecture echos the special-themed exhibition Graces of Ancient Glassware – Treasures from PT Collection. As a scholar from Archaeology and Museology, Prof. Qi Dong Fang will delve into the significance of glassware and its relationship with Buddhism. The lecture will be held on 25 May (Sat) at 2.30 - 3.30pm. 

Ohara Jigoemon XVI, the 16th successor of Jigoemon (the traditional technique for making Johana Makie lacquerware)

Another special-themed exhibition at IAF 2019 is Beauty and Faith: Mingei and the Essence of Japanese Art curated by Japanese-based group WADO PROJECT, showcasing an array of Japanese works of art that embody traditional Japanese culture. It presents representative ceramic, lacquer, metal working, wood and bamboo artists, calligraphers from Japan who embrace nature in their relentless quest for beauty through their hand-crafted works of art in this day and age, almost 100 years since the Mingei Movement began.

Alongside the exhibition, four related lectures will be hosted by artists on topics regarding Japanese art and crafts. Ohara Jigoemon XVI, the 16th successor of Jigoemon (the traditional technique for making Johana Makie lacquerware), will talk about The Roots of Japanese Art – The Tradition and Future of Johana Makie.

Maki-e (‘sprinkled pictures’) is a unique Japanese decorating style in which gold and silver dust is sprinkled onto a pattern or drawing in lacquer. In general, just the colors vermillion, black, yellow, green, and brown are expressed through lacquer, however, in Johana maki-e, white was newly incorporated to produce naturalistic colors, gradations, and shading to faithfully represent scenes offlowers and bird. The talk will be held on 25 May (Sat) at 4.30 - 5.30pm.

Shoryu (Rising Dragon) Shimatani Yoshinori IV (right), traditional craftsman of Takaoka Doki copper ware

Shimatani Yoshinori IV,  traditional craftsman of Takaoka Doki copper ware will also give a talk on Amidst the Sound of Orin Bells – a Sound Over a Hundred Years in the Making. An Orin bell is used when Buddhist monks chant Buddhist sutras.Yoshinori is the 4th generation to succeed his family’s business who specialize in making such Buddhist alter fittings. The lecture will be held on 27 May (Mon) at 12 - 1pm.

Hiroshi Ōta, Abbot of Daifukuji Temple, the Chairman of Tonami Folk Crafts Association and a Permanent Council Member of the Japan Folk Crafts Association

A lecture on the topic about Intuition – The Beauty and Ideoplogy of Mingei will be given by Hiroshi Ōta, Abbot of Daifukuji Temple, the Chairman of Tonami Folk Crafts Association and a Permanent Council Member of the Japan Folk Crafts Association. Led by the philospher Yanagi Soetsu (1889-1961), together with potters Kawai Kanjiro and Hamada Shoji, the Mingei Movement started in the late 1920s to 30s in Japan and aimed to celebrate and spread the beauty of the hand-crafted art of ordinary people. The lecture will be held on 27 May (Mon) at 3 - 4pm.

Katsuharu Takenaka, a scholar and collector of Japanese Iron Kettle, will share his view on History of Japanese Iron Kettle – About Regions and Makers on 26 May (Sun) at 2.30pm - 3.30pm. Mr. Katsuharu Takenaka has been collecting iron kettles since 1975 and started research on the history and makers of iron kettles, especially for ‘Ryubundo’ and ‘Kibundo’ in Kyoto, Omi, etc. In 2005, Mr. Katsuharu Takenaka opened “Tetsubin-ya” in Kanayamachi, the birthplace of Takaoka castings, where he displayed 500 iron kettles that he has collected so far.

Paul Bromberg on the left

The other two lectures on Sunday are all surrounding the theme of silver. Co-organised with the Hong Kong Maritime Museum, A Dialogue of the Thai and Chinese Export Silver on 25 May (Sun) at 12-1pm will be divided into two sections. The first part will invite the export silver expert Paul Bromberg to deliver a talk on “Thai Silver and Nielloware” focusing on the history, design and craftsmanship of Thai silver as well as its relation with Chinese export silver. In the second section, a dialogue between Paul Bromberg and Libby Chan, Assistant Director (Curatorial and Collections) of HKMM will be conducted. This section aims to encourage museum professionals, local collectors, and the public audience to further discuss the issues of Asian export silver and its collecting trends.

Marinella Veronesi

Sheffield Silverware

Another lecture, Introduction to Silver Art: Differences between Old Sheffield Plate and Silver Plating, will take place on 26th May at 5 - 6pm. It will be hosted by the renowned silver consultant, Mrs. Marinella Veronesi, who has first started her career in the silver business in 1978 in London and is now based in Bologna Italy. Sheffield plate is a layered combination of silver and copper that was used for many years to produce a wide range of household articles. Almost every article made in sterling silver was also crafted by Sheffield makers, who used this manufacturing process to produce nearly identical wares at far less cost. Mrs. Veronesi will be sharing her expertise of silverware at the lecture.

The last lecture will be given by Liu Chen En, an experienced Chinese ceramics specialist and conservator, on the topic Hong Kong Antiques Market in Past 70 years. It will be held on 27 May (Monday) at 5 - 6pm. For those who would like to make a registration, please check out the contact details below.

Registration

Tel no.: +852 2548 8702 (Ms. Kay Chan)
Email: iaf.hongkong@gmail.com
Seats available for each session: 50

The 12th Edition International Antiques Fair (2019)

Dates:
24th May (opening night for VIPs) | 6pm - 9pm (By invitation only)
25th - 27th May | 11am - 7pm
28th May | 11am - 5pm

Venue: Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, Hall 5BC
Address: 1 Expo Drive, Wanchai, Hong Kong
Free admission for the public (except the opening night)