Astrid de los Rios Editor-in-Chief

ANTIQUARIUS was born out of a desire to provide an insider’s look at the world of collecting and enjoying fine antiques and objets d’art. In this, our premier issue, we would like to extend you an invitation to open up the chest, or rather the tansu, and begin discovering with us an enticing collection of furniture, ceramics, textiles, glass, jewelry, prints, and other items from the applied and decorative arts.
We chose the name Antiquarius in homage to the English antiquarians of the 18th century, an era which witnessed the birth of a new kind of humanism when extensive travel and the collection of art objects was regarded as the finest way to acquire knowledge and broaden the mind. An appreciation of other cultures, ancient and modern, led them to a reappraisal of many aspects of life. We would like to think that a deeper exposure to Japan and the huge variety of experiences it offers will provide us all with a much wider vision.
In our forthcoming issues, we plan to introduce the superb artistic heritage of Japan and lead our readers into a better understanding of its aesthetics and traditional craftsmanship. Our feature stories will look into the historical and technical background of both Eastern and Western antiques. Moreover, we will be interviewing some of the most knowledgeable experts in the business and incorporating their hints as to “what to look for” when purchasing art and antiques.
Our aim is to demonstrate that Tokyo is not just an exciting modern international city, but also a treasure-trove of fascinating European and other Asian artefacts. For example, you may not be aware that Tokyo boasts amazing collections of rare Old and New World wines and foreign classic cars. But don’t think we are ignoring the present; the section titled “Antiquarius goes Contemporary” will update you on the vibrant modern art scene of today’s Tokyo. So let’s now open up the tansu, bearing in mind that there is always the chance of another treasure lying hidden in the next drawer waiting to be discovered.

Astrid de los Rios Editor-in-Chief