The Baur Collection, Geneva: Netsuke (Selected Pieces)

English and French text.; Hardcover (cloth with dust jacket in carton box); 23.5 x 29 cm; 2.8 kg; 428 pages with colour and black and white illustrations throughout.; ISBN: 2-88031-002.; Limited edition of 1600 copies, of which this is 822.; Used with signs of wear on the exterior and interior. The carton box is worn, shows edge wear, scuffs, scratches and some yellowing. The dust jacket shows minor edge wear, scuffs and scratches. The outside text block shows some yellowing. Interior with minor yellowing on the rear of the front and back cover. Remaining interior in very good condition.; "The Baur Collection of netsuke is remarkable, both for the great variety of subjects and the great number of carvers represented. In addition it contains a striking number of true masterpieces. At the same time the collection is not so well balanced as one might wish it to be, some important artists missing altogether, others being almost over-represented. This has of course also its advantages. For students and collectors who wish for instance to study the work of Kaigyokusai (31 pieces), Soko (24 pieces), or the famous metal artist Shuraku (30 pieces) there will be few other collections that can afford the same opportunities." excerpt from the introductory text by Martin S. Newstead.; "The collection of netsuke comprises 1,708 pieces, listed as follows by Alfred Baur: 533 netsuke in ivory, 590 in wood, 28 in lacquer, 35 miscellaneous, 247 manju and 275 kagamibuta. This catalogue only illustrates 1,200 pieces of the 1,700 odd of the whole collection. We have therefore selected an ensemble of pieces that could be accomodated within the limits of a volume convenient to handle and consult. Of course all the excluded pieces have been photographed and are described in the inventory." excerpt from the introductory text by Marie-Thérèse Coullery.…