LONDON.- An exceptionally fine baluster moriage cloisonné-enamel vase by Hattori Tadasaburo, Meiji era, sold for an impressive £100,000 at Bonhams Fine Japanese Sale in London yesterday (17 May). The lot far exceeded its estimate of £15,000-20,000.

A kawari kabuto (helmet) from the Edo period also performed extremely well achieving £43,750, against an estimate of £6,000-8,000.

Other highlights from the sale included:

• A totai jippo (partial plique-à-jour) cloisonné-enamel trumpet vase by Ando Jubei, Taisho sold for £37,500, estimated at £8,000-12,000

• Possibly by Arai Seiho Tsunesato (d.1838), Edo period, sold for £35,000, estimated at £25,000-30,000

• A Nabeshima polychrome saucer dish, Edo period (1615-1868) sold for £35,000, estimated at £10,000-15,000

• A finely mounted Mino aikuchi (short sword), the blade by Kanetsuna, Muramachi Period sold for £32,500, estimated at £15,000-20,000

Suzannah Yip, Head of Fine Japanese Art, said ‘These robust results at Bonhams confirm that London remains a leading centre for Japanese art. The spectacular prices seen in several categories clearly demonstrate that collectors appreciate the intrinsic merit of the superb, fresh-to-the-market pieces that we offered.”