| As rather specialised Asian antique collectors, over a | | | | So should a burglar grab any of these treasures and |
| very long period, we have managed to help form | | | | then try to sell them, especially the finer examples, |
| collections of really fine Japanese netsuke, inro, | | | | the burglar would not find it so easy. For not only are |
| lacquer boxes, Chinese snuff bottles, pendants, jade | | | | all these pieces well documented and illustrated, but |
| and hard stone carvings. | | | | also serious dealers, collectors and auction houses all |
| One advantage of collecting in such specialised fields | | | | belong to (and have an international reporting |
| is that most people will not have any idea of what | | | | system) where the word would soon be out. The |
| these things are. We believe that on the odd rare | | | | Internet is so useful for the speed with which such |
| occasion when we might have some of these | | | | information can be spread. As such unique important |
| antiques at home, if the average burglar were to | | | | pieces are certain to be recognised eventually, the |
| break in and find them, the chances are, that it would | | | | police would then have a valuable lead back to the |
| be the DVD machine, or the TV, that is more likely | | | | culprit. |
| to be taken. | | | | It is true that there are certain top quality antiques |
| Another two advantages can be gained, by only | | | | that are stolen to order; these then end up in secret |
| buying the finest quality examples that is, providing | | | | collections where the owner dare not ever show |
| one can afford to. The first benefit is that these are | | | | them. This is very hard for the owner as one of the |
| sure to increase in value, so much more than the | | | | pleasures all collectors enjoy is being able to show |
| average, or poorer pieces and one has far greater | | | | what they have acquired to fellow collectors. But |
| pleasure in owning them. It has been apparent over | | | | even if such stolen antiques end up somewhere like |
| the years of collecting, that owning just one or two | | | | this, then although it might take very much longer, |
| superb pieces has always been worth very much | | | | there will come a time when they will be discovered. |
| more, than having twenty, or more, indifferent ones. | | | | It might not happen till the owner dies, but then |
| But the second advantage is that these, the finest | | | | what will any heirs do with such collections? If they |
| antiques, are also well known amongst the more | | | | try to sell any, then the chances of such stolen |
| serious collectors and dealers, as well as by the | | | | pieces being recognised still remains very high. |
| better auction rooms. | | | | |