Edutainment > Robert O. Muller (1911-2003) - 6 Years Later

Shiro Kasamatsu 1898-1992

Shiro Kasamatsu - Biography
Deer in the Morning Mist
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When the collector and art dealer Robert O. Muller died in 2003, he left the largest collection of Japanese prints - mostly shin hanga - that the world has ever seen. A few art dealers who had a closer insight into this huge collection, were worried that the market for shin hanga prints would break down. It did not happen. Now, 6 years later, the part of the collection that was made available for the market is coming to an end and prices are going up.

The prints shown on this page are offered in our online auction no. 774, running from June 10 until June 14, 2009.

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Robert O. Muller - 1911-2003

Robert O. Muller had made his first encounter with Japanese woodblock prints as a young man in New York in the 1930s. In 1940, a few months before the attack on Pearl Harbor, Robert O. Muller went on a honeymoon trip with his bride and later wife Inge to Japan. It turned more into a shopping tour for Japanese prints. Rob met the print publisher Watanabe Shozaburo and other publishers and many of the major shin hanga artists like Kawase Hasui, Ito Shinsui or Shiro Kasamatsu.

By then Robert O. Muller had purchased the Shima Art Company in New York and had the intention to become a dealer in Japanese prints. While in Japan (Tokyo and Kyoto) he bought woodblock prints by the best artists in huge quantities. The time for buying was excellent. Due to the frosty climate between Japan and the Western world, Japan's trade with the United States and Europe had come to a hault and great prints could be acquired for bargain prices.

The Muller Collection

Hasui Kawase 1883-1957

Hasui Kawase Biography
Kasuga Shrine in Nara
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The Pacific war set a stop to Muller's dealership plans. After the war, Robert O. Muller continued his ambitions as a dealer and collector. Unnoticed from the world he had amassed thousands of the finest shin hanga.

In the 1980s and 1990s the collection was exhibited in the United States and also in Europe. Then Chris Uhlenbeck, a well-known ukiyo-e dealer, -scholar and publisher of books about Japanese prints (Hotei Publishing) became aware of the collection and recognized its enormous importance for the art world. A book was published ("The New Wave") and the public became finally aware of the quality and the quantity of this collection.

After the death of Robert O. Muller on April 10, 2003, a representative selection of 4,000 prints and all available documents were bequeathed by Rob's heirs to one of the world's most renowned museums, the Smithonian Institution in Washington DC. The largest part of the collection however was made available for the market.

Muller Auctions by artelino

In autumn of 2003 artelino was in the fortunate position to be able to hold an auction special with prints from the estate of Robert O. Muller. Since then we had 22 successful auctions of woodblock prints from the Muller collection. We have not counted them, but overall we have sold several thousands of Japanese prints coming from the Robert O. Muller estate.

Impact on the Market for Shin Hanga

Hasui Kawase 1883-1957

Robert Muller Collection - 2003
Ukishima, Yanaginawa
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Art dealers who had seen the collection at lifetime of Robert O. Muller in its full dimensions were worried that the market for shin hanga prints would inevitably break down if this collection would ever come into the market.

But it did not happen. On the contrary, prices for most designs are today - nearly 6 years later - higher than in 2003. I remember well the first online auctions in "Muller prints" in late autumn of 2003. Many of the designs had never been seen before. The first Muller online auctions were held by Janiece and Paul Knutson (Asian Collection Internet Auction) and by artelino nearly at the same time in late 2003 ended with exceptional results.

Later demand calmed a bit down for some designs that had been available in large numbers and had been exposed too often. But recently even these designs have picked up in prices. These "neglected" designs are by the way in no way of any lower quality or unattractive. They have simply been available in such large numbers. As such they are an excellent opportunity for art lovers who still want to acquire a "Muller" print and want to make a bargain.

The Market for "Muller Prints" in 2009

Soseki Komori

Robert Muller Catalog
Moorehens in the Rain
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In 2008 it was recognizable that the supplies from the Robert O. Muller estate were not unlimited and that the surplus was by and by turning into a situation of scarcity. Especially the best and rarest designs and all sheets in oban-size are now running out.

In 2009 artelino had one Muller auction special in February - auction # 719. In spite of a general market condition that could hardly be worse due to the worldwide recession, the result of this event turned out to be overwhelming - the second best auction result in our company history (since 2001).

As a general trend this auction fetched very high prices for the designs in oban size by Hasui, Kasamatsu, Koson, Hiroshi Yoshida and others. But also the smaller prints, for instance prints by Shotei (Hiroaki Takahashi) in mitsugiri size, performed quite strong.

From all I know, there is no market risk in buying prints from the Robert O. Muller collection now. There may be one or two "hoards" bought and accumulated by ukiyo-e dealers from the collection after Robert O. Muller's death. But these are no quantities that may have a major influence on the market for shin hanga prints.

Can you Recognize a "Muller" Print?

Koson Ohara 1877-1945

Koson Ohara - Biography
Indian Hill Minor and Magnolia
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We are often asked how a Japanese print can be recognized as coming from the Muller collection. Unfortunately there is no clear indicator like a collector stamp. However the prints have certain "qualities" and if you deal long enough with them like we at artelino you develop some kind of guts feelings for prints coming from the Robert O. Muller estate. The indicators are:

• Most of the prints have a Made in Japan stamp on verso.
• As the prints had been framed and stored well, their condition is usually flawless (with a few exceptions).
• The prints represent the personal taste of the collector and therefore have a certain "look and feel". Robert O. Muller had an excellent taste, a sharp eye for art and a sense for "perfection".

But these are only some vague indicators. There is no definite way to identify a Japanese print as being from the original collection of the great Robert O. Muller.

Dieter Wanczura
(June 2009)

Literature sources for the Robert O. Muller Collection

Shotei 1871-1945

Shotei - Mitsugiri Prints
Old Inn
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• Chris Uhlenbeck, "Robert O. Muller 1912 - 2003", article in Andon 74, published by Society for Japanese Arts, Leiden, ISSN 0168-2997.
• Amy Reigle Stephens, "The New Wave - Twentieth Century Japanese Prints from the Robert O. Muller Collection", Bamboo Publishing Ltd. London und Hotei - Japanese Prints, Leiden, ISBN 1-870076-19-2.
• "Printed to Perfection", Twentieth Century Japanese Prints from the Robert O. Muller Collection. Amy Newland (editor) - with essays by James Ulak & Joan B. Mirviss. ISBN 9074822738, 2004, English, Paperback 128 pp., 125 full colour illustrations.

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