Lempertz to Auction Kress Collection of 1,000 Inrō Starting December 10
The Facts
On July 28, 2026, Lempertz announced it has been entrusted with auctioning the Heinz and Else Kress collection of inrō, one of the most extensive and comprehensive collections of Japanese lacquer boxes in Europe. Assembled over decades beginning in 1979, the collection comprises around 1,000 unique pieces, each showcasing intricate lacquer work from the Edo period through the end of the 19th century. The first part of the collection will be auctioned at an evening sale on December 10 in Cologne, with highlight pieces including a rare late-19th-century inrō featuring butterflies and peonies against a blue background, estimated at €8,000 to €10,000. The auction marks the start of a series of sales spanning multiple years, with selected pieces also previewed at Lempertz branches in Brussels, Munich, and Berlin.
The Signal
The Kress collection represents a landmark moment for the European market in Japanese lacquer arts, offering collectors access to a trove of around 1,000 inrō assembled by renowned industrialist collectors who were internationally respected experts in the field. For collectors of Asian decorative arts, this series of auctions presents a rare opportunity to acquire museum-quality pieces that have been exhibited at major institutions and studied by specialists. Lempertz's success in recent Asian art auctions positions this sale to reinforce Cologne's role as a hub for Far Eastern art in Europe, signaling sustained demand for high-end Japanese craftsmanship.
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- People: Heinz Kress, Else Kress
- Auction Houses: Lempertz
- Museums: BASF Museum of Lacquer Art, Museum für Kunst und Gewerbe Hamburg, Kunst- und Ausstellungshalle der Bundesrepublik Deutschland
- Locations: Cologne, Brussels, Munich, Berlin
- Prices: €8,000 to €10,000
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