large Wheel Ceramic by Nobuko Kimura
The ceramic piece is by Nobuko Kimura who died in 2004. Previously you found reference that Yale University has two of her pieces, “Incense containers” in the Asian Art Collection. I have learned that Ms Kimura sold her ceramics from her own gallery in Manhattan, NYC on 20th st near 7th Avenue. Her work was also sold at the Elaine Benson Gallery in Bridgehampton, NY which closed in 2006. This piece is a wheel. It is 18.25” in diameter and 1” thick. It weights 15 pounds. A former patron of Nobuko Kimura said her work in the 1960s sold for $40 - $200 a piece. This is the largest piece of hers that my father has, but I really don’t know if she made any larger pieces.
My father bought it directly from the artist probably in the 1960s.
Auction House
No
Hi again Chris,
I apologize for the delay. Thank you for sharing the additional information you found on her works and galleries.
I called up the Ezra Gallery, formerly the Elaine Benson Gallery, and spoke with them about her. They were able to find several receipts for her work dated to 1986. The amounts were: $212, $300, $250, $300, and $500. I also spoke with them about whether her work may have appreciated in value. Their input was that ceramics generally do not, unless the artist achieves notoriety. In the case that the artist remains relatively obscure, as Nobuko is, the original 1980s prices would be about the same today.
With inflation ($100 in 1986 = $234 in 2021), the values of her sales I listed above are between $505 and $1192. My valuation is based on these sales. Please let me know if I can assist further with this.
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