There has been a distinct Oriental air in the Lab of late as we prepare ourselves for a new exhibition coming to Cliffe Castle this Autum.
We have a fabulous collection of Japanese objects, mostly donated by two wealthy local industrialists at the beginning of the last century.
Both of our main donors were involved in textile manufacture in Bradford and probably met each other in the course of their business.
Colonel H.A. Foster was the managing director of John Foster Limited at Black Dyke Mill in Queensbury making and supplying worsted material.
His principal interest lay with Japanese edged weapons and armours which he generously donated to Cartwright Memorial Hall in 1923. We believe his donation may have been prompted by his new bride who didn’t share his love of the Orient.
The Priestman’s were Quakers with business interests in Bradford centred around the textile industry.
We believe both of the Priestman brothers collected Japanese art, mainly woodblock prints or Ukiyo-e and small carvings, Netsuke which came in the collection in 1935 and 1948,
We know quite a lot about these people and thanks to Ernest’s (Ernest is one of our collections volunteers) dogged research – we don’t call him the Yorkshire Terrier for nothing – we know about the businesses that funded their passion, what they preferred to collect and even how much some of them cost but we are missing one elusive detail!!
We don’t know why two Yorkshiremen had such an interest In Japanese art!
Europe was fascinated by all things Japanese following the opening of trade with the west again in the 1850’s. In Paris twenty years later there were several shops catering for ‘Japanism’ with the discerning western collector, Porte Chinoise at 36 rue Vivienne, Mr and Mrs Désoye’s on 220 rue de Rivoli, the Oppenheimer Brothers at 21 Cléry or Sigfried Bing on Rue Chauchat.
The Priestman’s were Quakers with business interests in Bradford centred around the textile industry. We believe both of the Priestman brothers collected Japanese art, mainly woodblock prints or Ukiyo-e and small carvings, Netsuke which came in the collection in 1935 and 1948,
One of our Yorkshire Gentlemen had his own Ocean going Yacht with a staff of 27 men and he traded textiles to Japan where the new wealthy merchants swapped Kimonos for smart new suits made of Bradford worsted.
It’s tempting to think our Chap journeyed there but we are missing that elusive notebook or Diary and until we can prove it, it has to remain a theory.
What we do know is that they bought well; woodblock prints by famous artists, exquisite ancient swords and intricately carved objects.
It’s a legacy we want to share with you this Autumn, and we hope you’ll visit Ukiyo-e at Cliffe Castle Museum