We are thrilled to inform you that Galerie Kommoss has been selected as a member of the Asian Art Society. The Asian Art Society is a group of some of the world's leading dealers in Asian Art. To ensure highest standards, gallery membership is by invitation only and determined by a selection committee of influential gallerists, such as Gregg Baker, Christophe Hioco, and Renaud Montméat. We are feeling grateful, proud and honored for their approval and the trust the colleagues have placed in us as one of their youngest members.

The society issues a monthly online catalog listing high quality works of Asian art that have been thoroughly vetted by the selected members, who are the in-house experts. There is no cost to subscribe and we strongly recommend you to sign up. Follow them on Instagram!

Edited by: Uwe Fleckner, Yih-Fen Hua and Shai-Shu Tzeng. Warburg International Seminar, Mnemosyne, Vol. 6, De Gruyter 2020.

A striking pair of six-panel folding screens by Mochizuki Gyokkei showing a flock of cranes. Together the two screens disclose a gorgeous seven-meter wide composition of interacting individuals, painted in ink and mineral colors on a glittering gold background. Dated to 1906, Dr. Fabian Kommoss has discovered that the screens are bearing some iconic models of cranes which were used by Gyokkei in a later work, commissioned by the imperial family in 1912. By moving the Shōbi-kan pavilion as a present from the imperial palace to the gardens of the Heian Shrine in Kyōto, Gyokkei was asked as son of Mochizuki Gyokusen (1834-1913) - an official painter for the imperial household - to create a new wall design. The Heian shrine was erected to commemorate the 1100 anniversary of the foundation of the capital Heian-kyō (Kyōto). What seems to be more appropriate for this occasion than a flock cranes, an animal which is believed in East Asia to live 1000 years!

Extremely rare early Edo-period storage jar from Sasayama in today’s Hyōgo prefecture. With its sharp-angled shoulders, its broad, flat base and slightly narrowed body, this jar illustrates a Japanese type of storage jars that was invented by Tanba potters for the promotion and export for one of the local famous goods, known as asakura sanshō, or “Japanese pepper”. Asakura sanshō (Zanthoxylum piperitum var. inerme) is a local variation of common Japanese pepper, that is closely related to Chinese Szechuan pepper. However, asakura sanshō only grew wildly in the mountains of the Hyōgo prefecture and gained popularity throughout Japan for its fresh and bright aroma since the late 16th century. Keeping the dried spice fresh in order to preserve its delicate aroma was not an easy task within the humid climate of the Japanese archipelago. That explains the distinct shape of this type of jars. They have very thick walls to protect the stored goods from humidity and the narrowed shape makes it easier to lift the heavy jars securely with both hands.