Page 35 - 2021 March 17th Japanese and Korean Art, Bonhams NYC New York

Property from the collection of

Richard R. Silverman, sold to benefit

Brandeis University

Richard Silverman was a larger-than-life figure to everyone who knew
him. His contributions to the field of Japanese art were celebrated by
the institutions that he so generously supported: the Toledo Museum
of Art, where he donated 226 ceramic netsuke from his Collection, the
International Netsuke Society, where he was honored with the Silver Kirin
award in 2011, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art where he joined
the Executive Board in 1993, the International Society of Appraisers, where
he served on the board from 1986 to 1994 and his alma mater, Brandeis
University, the beneficiary of the sale of his collection offered here. Prior to
his passing, he was thrilled to learn that he was to be awarded the Order of
the Rising Sun, Silver Rays by the Japanese government “to celebrate the
ties between Toledo and Japan through the Netsuke Gallery, to be held at
the Toledo Museum of Art.”

A graduate of Brandeis University in 1954, he served in the US Army
in Korea in the late 1950s, then joined the Peace Corps and ultimately
became a Director General of the Ministry of Education for teaching English
in Bangkok in 1962. He fell in love with Japanese art when he moved to
Japan in 1964 to teach English at Aoyama Gakuin University, and started
collecting netsuke when he had no more room in his small apartment for his
extensive collection of prints and ceramics. His passion and enthusiasm for
these lively miniature carvings became infectious to those he met during his
15-year stay in Japan, and he formed close associations with the important
dealers and collectors, while helping others build their own netsuke
collections. He moved to Los Angeles in 1980, and shortly thereafter
became a member of the renown Los Angeles circle of beloved netsuke
collectors, sharing the honors with Virginia Atchley, Ann and Hy Meselson,
Ellie Nordskog, and Dave and Sandy Swedlow. He wrote countless articles
on netsuke, lectured world-wide and consulted with major collections and
auction houses for much of his very active life.
Richie was a proud citizen of West Hollywood and worked to promote
civic activities. He served as chair of the City of West Hollywood Fine Arts
Commission for nine years and volunteered for the West Hollywood Sheriff’s
station on Saturday evening for 18 years, serving at the Front Desk. Richie
approached everything he did with a sparkle in his eyes and that wide,
infectious grin that made a room light up when he entered. We miss him
and are very proud to offer selections from his Collection here at Bonhams.

FINE JAPANESE AND KOREAN ART | 33