John's father George is a well known netsuke & inro collector and his (now rare) book 'In Search of Netsuke & Inro' is a much sought after publication.  John has followed in his father's footsteps, together with his wife, they have been very keen collectors for over 35 years.  

They owned a unique collection of Jensen classic cars of the early 60's and John used a special CV8 Jensen every day for over 30 years!  But John's father certainly influenced him in favouring and appreciating the Asian arts, his father, a great connoisseur of netsuke and inro (amongst other antiques) and John grew up sharing his passion.  As a family they have always been interested in good quality antiques but have specialised in collecting:- Japanese netsuke, lacquer inro and boxes, Chinese snuff bottles, Chinese jade and hard-stone carvings and more recently (but for over 20 years now), Chinese pendants.

Click to have a look at some of the Cohen collection

Over such a long period they could not fail to acquire a good deal of knowledge and experience in these subjects, that is one of the great advantages of specialising!  But John had also gained so much from handling and discussing pieces, with his father, many years before he got married.

John has written these articles with the hope of introducing readers to a fascinating pastime as well as providing some useful information to any 'would be' collectors of these most beautiful works of art.

The common denominator of all the things, they collect, is their appreciation of what can only be described as brilliant craftsmanship.

Most of the material, and there certainly is plenty, published on these subjects tends to be aimed at either informed collectors, or at the complete novice.  The former presume knowledge is required at great depth, whilst the latter simply describes what can be found in a very basic way.  John provides in this series of articles something between the two.

His personal views include some valuable advice that should help protect readers from making poor quality purchases.  First time buyers are so often unaware of the considerations most collectors only acquire over the years.  Although informative these articles make for light reading, the enthusiasm and love of the subject really shines through! 

Summaries of The Series of Articles

Finding The Best Bargains of All, Can Be So Surprising  (678 words*)
The author after many years experience, in buying rather specialised antiques, has found to his surprise that the very best bargains turned out not to be the ones he bought as such.  But maybe there is a useful lesson to learn here for fellow collectors.
Finding the best bargains of all

How Best to Begin Buying Antiques in Auction or From Dealers  (917 words*)
Some personal guidance on how to begin buying antiques from dealers, or in the auction room, as a collector.  Some valuable insights not generally known, that will equally apply to all types of antique collecting.
Buying antiques in auctions or from dealers

Collecting and Buying Values  (2,611 words*)
Describes how, why, and what they collect.  How the author relates values, by comparing craftsmanship and comparative prices between the subjects of interest to him.  Plus information on how best to buy at auction and from the dealers.
Collecting and buying values

Chinese Snuff Bottles

Collecting Magical Stone Snuff Bottles  (2,623 words*)
Some personal thoughts on collecting in general, and the possibilities in collecting Snuff Bottles.  How to avoid the normal mistakes made by most new collectors.  Describing how stone bottles were made, the ingenious way the Chinese made use of flaws to create pictures and how to evaluate them.  Also about John Cohen's first snuff bottle purchase.
Magical Stone snuff bottles

Sensations in Glass! Chinese Snuff Bottles  (1,668 words*)
How and why they decided to buy glass snuff bottles.  Detailing the amazing different types, explaining the manufacturing techniques, and how to assess them.  Dealing with:- 'Overlay Glass', 'Imperial Yellow', 'The Seal School' and 'Inside Painted' snuff bottles.  The incredible glass imitations of other materials and how to recognise them.  Some thoughts on how he values them.
Sensations in glass

Chinese Snuff Bottles - Collecting and Bribery  (1,587words*)
All the finest of Chinese art forms can be found in the form of snuff bottles.  Details about collecting stone bottles and assessing works with no signatures.  Tips on what to look out for when buying.  Relates to the largest collection formed in China by Chien-Lung's corrupt Prime minister, who was the wealthiest man in the world.  The collecting craze and how bottles have been used for bribes.
Collecting & bribery

Heavy Stones that Really Float!  Chinese Snuff Bottles  (605 words*)
All about antique hard stone Chinese snuff bottles that are described as well hollowed out and the most amazing stone snuff bottles that are so wonderfully hollowed out, that they will float in water.  Valuable guidance for potential collectors of snuff bottles.
Heavy stones that really float!

Collecting Only Unique Chinese Antiques – the What, How and Why.  (956 words*)
About collecting unique antique Chinese snuff bottles, pendants and jade carvings.  Explaining in what way these are so unique and why the author did not only collect snuff bottles.  Some useful thoughts for fellow collectors.
Collecting only unique Chinese antiques  

Amazing Pictures From Natural Flaws or Inclusions Found in Stones!  (884 words*)
How amazing pictures have been formed from natural flaws or inclusions discovered in the stones, used by the brilliant carvers of antique Chinese stone snuff bottles.
Amazing pictures from natural flaws

Inside Painted Chinese Snuff Bottles  (263 words*)
Describes these extraordinary Chinese works of art and what aspects of inside painted snuff bottles intrigue the author (a snuff bottle collector) most.
Inside Painted Chinese Snuff Bottles

Japanese Netsuke and Lacquer

Sprinkled, Not Painted Pictures - Japanese Lacquer  (1,532 words*)
Explains what lacquer is, and how lacquer articles were made and copied from the Chinese.  Particularly about the later 18th and early 19th century techniques created only by the Japanese, when they became the unrivalled masters of the art!  They created incredible works where pictures were formed by pouring and sprinkling fine gold particles of various grades and pigments on to the wet lacquer.  This article describes fully these various techniques.
Lacquer sprinkled, not painted pictures

The Fascination of Japanese Lacquer Inro and Boxes  (2,411 words*)
Explaining what inro are, why and how they were made, how they were worn and used, with some useful tips on the correct way of handling inro.  Boxes are dealt with in a similar way.  Describing the choice of subject matter, the famous schools of lacquer artists, where works by the master Zeshin can be seen, and the questions that arise over the signatures.
The fascination of inro & boxes

Netsuke, Ojime and Inro Really Belong Together  (519 words*)
Explaining a little about what netsuke, inro and ojime are, also how they were used, and the fact that although these antiques are often collected separately they really belong to be together.
Netsuke, ojime & inro really belong together

Keeping and Handling Japanese Inro  (311 words*)
Describes how to keep, handle and pick up inro in order to avoid the most common ways of damaging the lacquer.  Most important information for inexperienced collectors.
Keeping and handling Japanese inro

Netsuke Cord Holes (Himotoshi)  (431 words*)
About inspecting antique netsuke, detailing the reason for different sized netsuke cord holes and how they should be positioned.  This can be one way of recognising a poor quality modern netsuke.
Netsuke cord holes (himotoshi)

( * = Approximate number of words, but not including the required link) that should read as follows: - 
The author has been a keen Asian antique collector for many years helping to create ‘The Cohen collection’.  To see more of his articles please use the following link: - http://www.jncohen.net/antiques/articles.htm  John N Cohen's homepage: - http://www.jncohen.net

Classic Car

A Rare, British, Super Classic Car . . . Surprisingly Undervalued!  (1467 words**)
Lots of details and information about the rare Jensen 541S manual drive car that suffered from the poor reputation of the rather slow automatic 541S version.
Jensen 541S

( ** = Approximate number of words, but not including the required link) that should read as follows: - 
The author has been a keen Jensen 541S and CV8 car collector for many years, to see more information: - http://www.jncohen.net/Jensen.htm   John N Cohen's homepage: - http://www.jncohen.net

Photography

'The Magic Lantern'  (5,774 words***) 
A 'how to do it' article where the 'special effects' secrets are revealed.  These pure photographic techniques were created by this international award winning photographer without any computer, darkroom, or expensive equipment!  Once described anyone can do it!  
The magic lantern

( *** = Approximate number of words, but not including the required link) that should read as follows: - 
To see the portfolio of these and more, special effects photography: - http://www.jncohen.net/magic.htm   John N Cohen's homepage: - http://www.jncohen.net