LONE JACK, MO. — Two lacquered Japanese inros soared high over their estimates in Soulis Auctions’ December 5-6 sale. An example depicting crayfish and signed Tsuishu Yosei sold for $29,520, while the other, with an image of a baboon and signed Bunsai, brought $27,060.

The auction house wrote, “Tsuishu Yosei was the hereditary name given to a famous family of lacquer carvers dating back to the Fourteenth Century who specialized and excelled in this style of lacquer carving.”

The higher example had a label indicating it was in the collection of Edward Gilbertson, a Nineteenth Century English collector of Japanese works of art who was a founding member of the Japan Society, London, in 1891.

The auction’s second day saw the sale of the estate of Morton and Estelle Sosland, Kansas City patrons of the arts who donated an important collection of American Indian art to the Nelson-Atkins and served on its board.

Watch for a full review in a future issue.