A PAIR OF PLIQUE-À-JOUR VASES, TAISHO PERIOD, EARLY 20TH CENTURY

John R. Young II was a pioneer collector of Japanese art, focusing on the fine details, craftmanship and one of a kind pieces of the Meiji period. In the late 1960’s, John and his wife Frances began to travel abroad and were particularly taken with the Far East. They began to purchase decorative art pieces in China and Japan for their home, and it quickly became a more serious endeavour for them both. John built a reference library of auction catalogues and books and started to study and fine tune his preference for Meiji art at a time when these pieces were not considered fine art. Pursuing the very best that was ever made in this Japanese era brought John true joy and for the next twenty-five years he would follow his passion in collecting.

In the early 90’s, it became recognised that John had built a collection of stellar examples of the finest detail and artistry that was made in the Meiji period. Industry experts and historians organised an around the world exhibition of the pieces and the University of Oxford: Ashmolean Museum published a book, The Dragon King of the Sea by Oliver Impey and Malcolm Fairley. In 1993, John R. Young II and his wife Frances, gifted the majority of their collection to the Dallas Museum of Art so generations to come can see and appreciate the very best metalwork, cloisonné and lacquer works of this era.

John always said that throughout his life, building this collection gave him immense joy as it was a pursuit that resulted in wonderful discoveries, loyal friendships and memorable travels around the world. The pieces presented today are those that were kept by John personally to enjoy living with until he passed away in 2013.