ABSTRACT
From the mid-Victorian years there were in Britain a few ardent collectors of Japanese art and artefacts. They were the enthusiasts who went to much trouble to search out ‘good’ pieces. It was a rewarding if hazardous game, and, as will become clear, there could be pain as well as pleasure. For the purpose of this study the careers of a handful of British collectors including William Anderson,1 Arthur Morrison,2 Christopher Dresser3 in London, Michael Tomkinson4 in Kidderminster and James Lord Bowes5 in Liverpool will be considered. There is also the exceptional situation in Glasgow6
where, in 1878, the city was presented with a Japanese collection sent directly from Japan. Some of the collectors discussed have enriched the holding of Japanese art in British museums and art galleries. However, it remained difficult to authenticate and classify Japanese pieces.
