https://www.antiquestradegazette.com/print-edition/2023/july/2601/in-the-news/no-fanfare-as-ivory-netsuke-sets-a-new-record/
This auction had not been shown online and not advertised, it was only announced that some ivory netsuke would be auctioned immediately following a really important wood netsuke and inro auction, and the main buyers were only informed, whilst they were there.
One of our ivory netsuke is by Otoman and according to Neil K. Davey it is a very rare and a unique subject by him. So, we started to consider selling our Ivory Zodiac netsuke collection.
The World was Becoming a Dangerous Place
We have been shocked and depressed by the 7th October 2023 brutal attack by Hamas in Israel, resulting in war. Also by the amount of antisemitism around the world, and the obvious bias of the press, who broadcast lots of Hamas lies, without any attempt to verify the truth. Generally the press has been showing Israel in the worst
conceivable way. The surrounding countries all have terrorists brought up and taught to kill Jews, which
have been controlled and encouraged by Iran for years.
Russia invading Ukraine, Gaza attacking Israel,
whilst various other parts of the world all seem set on becoming war zones.
An Amazing but Difficult Trip
We started our usual drive back to Puerto Banus from Switzerland, feeling rather concerned about the farmers in France and in Spain, who have been blocking the motorways at random for quite some time, all we could find out is that they suddenly move hundreds of tractors at various points to completely block all movement from 10:00am for the rest of the day. They are doing this as a demonstration against cheap imports, and the low income they have to try to survive on.
We had a good first day’s drive to our usual hotel in Orange and were relieved at how well our day had gone, but on our second day we got on the motorway heading to Spain but were suddenly trapped, unable to get off the Motorway, all three lanes were at a standstill and for over a couple of hours and a half we could crawl short distance only now and then. Some of the many lorries had parked in the nearside lane and the drivers were trying to sleep. We tried to leave the motorway after the Narbonne exit but this was blocked, luckily, the next exit was open and we took it, the nearest place was Carcassonne.
The Start of Our Adventure
We parked the car and I phoned our hotel in Villalonga to explain we were not able to come and to cancel our room, as the owner is a friend he cancelled our room without charge and saved us the same booking for the next day, without any commitment, only that we let him know if we can make it. Then I did some checking and as it was Valentines day we knew most good restaurants would be fully booked, but I found that hotel DonJon in the centre of Carcassonne had a room available and a special Valentines evening meal, it was very expensive, but the reviews were good, and I decided we would book it.