1867–1940
Dealer
Matsuki Bunkio was a well-known dealer and connoisseur of Japanese antiquities, especially prints and ceramic wares, who operated a shop that was first located on Boston’s fashionable Boylston Street and later relocated to Newbury Street. Born in Shinano Province, Japan, as Takasaburo Matsuki, he grew up in a family that sold household wares and antiquities from impoverished samurai families. At age fourteen, he moved to Tokyo to become an attendant to a Buddhist priest who practiced Nichiren Buddhism, a branch of Mahayana Buddhism. Two years after his arrival, Matsuki became a disciple, receiving the name Bunkio. At the monastery, he studied English in preparation for a life of Buddhist missionary work, but by 1886, he abandoned the religious life and traveled to China, where he continued to pursue English-language studies. In 1888, Matsuki Bunkio—who soon restyled himself in the Western manner as Bunkio Matsuki, using his given name first—traveled to Boston, Massachusetts, where his hero, Benjamin Franklin, had also begun his career.
In Boston, Matsuki found the support of a group of wealthy university students who connected him with Edward S. Morse (1838–1925), a zoologist, archaeologist, and orientalist. Morse amassed a sizable collection of Japanese ceramics, which he kept in his home in Salem, and employed Matsuki to catalogue it. Recognizing his intelligence, Morse enrolled Matsuki at Salem High School; he graduated just two years later. Matsuki soon married a local woman, Martha Putnam Meacom (1872–1916), and found employment with the Syndicate Trading Company, which owned several dry-goods department stores across the country, including Almy, Bigelow and Washburn in Salem. Matsuki developed a temporary Japanese section within the store, selling Japanese artworks and household wares imported from Japan. The Syndicate Trading Company soon recognized Matsuki as an expert in identifying goods that would sell well to Westerners, and in 1891, the company sent him to Japan with the task of establishing new export agreements. Upon Matsuki’s eventual return to Salem, Almy, Bigelow and Washburn invited him to make a permanent Japanese department within the store. The section became a massively profitable endeavor and began to conduct wholesale business. During this period of great success, Matsuki and his wife welcomed four children and built a home along Salem’s Laurel Street in the “Japanese Style.”
By 1893, Matsuki established a larger Japanese goods store in downtown Boston that carried inexpensive imports, including tea, parasols, lanterns, paper, fans, and toys alongside artistic rarities. The same year, the Japanese government appointed Matsuki to serve as the principal advisor in identifying commercial goods and fine arts for exhibition in the Japanese displays at the Columbian Exposition in Chicago. This position helped him cultivate a reputation as an astute, refined connoisseur and allowed him to increasingly focus on supplying Western museums and collectors with Japanese works of art.
He expanded his business, marketing art supplies to amateur artists, opening a gallery space in Newport, Rhode Island, and holding auctions in New York City at the American Art Association. His new storefronts and public auctions allowed him to cater to wealthy clientele, including Charles Lang Freer (1854–1919), Louis Comfort Tiffany (1848–1933), Henry Walters (1848–1931), and Henry (1847–1907) and Louisine Havemeyer (1855–1929), among several others. Freer not only became one of Matsuki’s most important customers but he also became a good friend. The duo worked together as peers, debating attributions, drawing comparisons, and exchanging study materials; Matsuki even accommodated Freer’s studiousness, producing specialized publications and providing translations. Through Freer, Matsuki developed a deep interest in the art of James McNeill Whistler (1834–1903), and when he developed Lotus, a journal that introduced Americans to Japanese art and culture, which he intended to publish quarterly, he dedicated the first (and only) volume in December 1903 to the late artist.
Matsuki made yearly trips to Japan, acquiring inventory and visiting family. Between 1903 and 1912 he made more frequent visits to Japan, as he reportedly fell in love with a geisha in Tokyo with whom he fathered a daughter. His wife, Martha, committed suicide in October 1916, and Matsuki quickly shuttered his American business ventures. By 1923, he relocated his household to New York City, where he enrolled as a student and taught courses on Buddhist history. In addition to teaching, Matsuki earned income as a writer and translator, preparing catalogues of the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens’ Japanese Garden, and as a small-scale dealer of Japanese art, though he never opened another store. In May 1931, he returned to Japan and eventually resumed monastic life, spending his remaining years at the Entsu-ji Temple in Akasaka.
Literature
Akiko, Murakata. “Bunkio Matsuki: The Connoisseur Priest Who Dedicated His Life to Introducing Japanese Art to America.” Ukiyo-e Art No. 66 (1980): 3–14.
American Art Association. Catalogue of Antique Chinese Porcelains and Pottery, Old Imari and Kutani, Fine Antique and Modern Bronzes, A Very Important Collection of Color Prints, Japanese Temple and Palace Carvings and Other Objects of Interest to Amateurs and Connoisseurs Recently Acquired by the Well-Known Japanese Connoisseur Bunkio Matsuki during a Recent Visit to His Native Country. New York, February 27–29, 1908.
—. Catalogue of Arms and Armor of Old Japan. Examples of the Famous Miychin’s and Others Celebrated for Their Work in Metals. Also Important Chinese Carved Screen Cloissoné [sic], Japanese Temple and Palace Carvings, and Other Objects of Interest to Amateurs and Connoisseurs Gathered on a Recent Visit to Japan by Bunkio Matsuki. New York, February 8–10, 1906.
—. Catalogue of Arms and Armor of Old Japan. Examples of the Famous Miyochin’s and Others Celebrated for Their Work in Metals. Also Sword Guards, Knife Handles, Pewter, Carvings, Brocades and Other Objects of Interest to Amateurs and Connoissurs Gathered on a Recent Visit to Japan by Bunkio Matsuki. New York, February 10–11, 1905.
—. Catalogue of Oil Paintings and Water Colors [sic] by Native Japanese Artists. New York, April 13, 1906.
—. Catalogue of Rare and Interesting Objects Illustrating the Arts and Crafts of Ancient China and Japan Recently Acquired by the Well-Known Japanese Connoisseur Bunkio Matsuki during a Recent Visit to his Native Country. New York, January 7–8, 1910.
—. Catalogue of Rare Objects in Brass, Leathers, and Wood Illustrating the Art of Old Japan. New York, February 12–14, 1903.
—. Catalogue of Remarkable Antique Carvings, Embroidered Silks & Bronzes Taken from Famous Temples and Palaces of Old Japan Recently Brought to this Country by B. Matsuki. New York, January 16–18, 1902.
—. Catalogue of Sumptuous Embroideries and Textiles of Ancient and Modern Japan and a Number of Fine Old Bronzes Personally Selected by B. Matsuki, a Native Connoisseur. New York, December 1–2, 1899.
—. Illustrated Catalogue of Oil Paintings and Drawings, Ipswich Prints from Wood Blocks, the Works of Professor Arthur Wesley Dow, and His Important Collection of Japanese Prints, Kakemono, Screen, Buddhist Temple Ornaments. New York, March 27–29, 1923.
American Art Galleries. Art of Old Japan. Rare Specimens of Pewter. Carvings in Jade and Other Stones and Wood. Many Lanterns from Famous Place and Temple Grounds. Fine Gold Lacquers and Other Scarce Objects Selected by the Well-Known Japanese Connoisseur Bunkio Matsuki. New York, January 21–23, 1904.
—. Catalogue of Arms and Armor of Old Japan. Antique Chinese Porcelains and Pottery. Old Imari, Blue and White. A Remarkable Stone Garden Bridge. A Very Important Collection of Color Prints, Japanese Temple and Palace Carvings, and Other Objects of Interest to Amateurs and Connoisseurs Gathered on a Recent Visit to Japan by Bunkio Matsuki. January 24–26, 1907.
—. Catalogue of an Extraordinary Collection of Antique and Modern Silks, Brocades and Other Fabrics. Remarkable Examples of Needle Work and Beautiful Kimonos Collected by the Japanese Expert Bunkio Matsuki. New York, January 20–21, 1899.
—. Print Sale. First and Last Evening Sale Tuesday Night. New York, February 8, 1906.
Anderson Auction Company. Illustrated Catalogue of Ancient Chinese and Japanese Paintings, Screens, Prints, Chinese Porcelains, Wood Carving, and Gold Lacquers from the Collection of the Japanese Connoisseur Bunkio Matsuki of Boston, Mass., Collected in Japan during the Last Fifteen Years. New York, February 25–26, 1919.
Anderson Galleries. Chinese Furniture and Embroideries and Other Oriental Art Objects Collected by Otto Fukushima. New York, February 13–14, 1920.
—. Japanese Color Prints. Including Many Important Prints from the Collection of an Old Samurai Family in Tokio [sic] Brought Together by the Well-Known Connoisseur Bunkio Matsuki. New York, January 19–20, 1920.
—. Oriental Art Catalogue of the Collection of Bunkio Matsuki of Boston. Rare Japanese Prints, Paintings, and Water-Colors of the Highest Quality, and Objects of Art, Including Antiquie Rugs, Pottery, Bronzes, Ivories, Embroideries, Textiles, and Remarkable Wood Carvings. New York, December 23, 1915.
Bruschke-Johnson, Lee. “Studies in Provenance: Japanese Wood Carvings and Sculpture from the Matsuki Sale of 1906.” Orientations Vol. 22 No. 4 (1991): 43–50.
Burrage, Severance. School sanitation and decoration; a practical study of health and beauty in their relation to the public schools. Boston: D. C. Health Company, 1899: 116–117.
C. G. Sloan & Company. Ancient Chinese Porcelain and Pottery. Washington, D.C., April 1, 1908.
Caffin, Charles H. The Art of Dwight W. Tyron: An Appreciation. 1909.
Catalogue of Remarkable Antique Carvings, Embroidered Silks & Bronzes Taken from Famous Temples of Old Japan Recently Brought to this Country by B. Matsuki. Copley Hall, Boston, February 17–19, 1902.
Chen, Constance J. S. “Merchants of Asianness [sic]: Japanese Art Dealers in the United States in the Early Twentieth Century.” Journal of American Studies Vol. 44, No. 1 (February 2010): 19–46.
Columbia University. Columbia University Bulletin of Information: Graduate Courses in Art and Archaeology, Announcement 1928-1929. New York: Columbia University, 1928: 9.
Davis and Harvey’s Galleries. Descriptive Catalogue of an Important Keramic [sic] Collection of Japanese and Chinese Pottery, Porcelain, Bronzes, Lacquers, Brocade, Prints, Embroideries, Kakemono, Screens, Ethnological and Buddhis Objects Selected by Mr. Bunkio Matsuki of Kobe, Japan, and Boston. Philadelphia, January 22–26, 1898.
—. Catalogue of Rare Objects in Brass, Leathers, and Wood Illustrating the Art of Old Japan Recently Brought to This Country by Bunkio Matsuki. Philadelphia, November 19–21, 1902.
—. Japanese Art Objects, Comprising Pottery, Porcelain Bronzes, Lacquers, Screens, Embroideries and Fabrics. Philadelphia, April 20, 1900.
Frank A. Leonard, Boston. Catalogue of an Extraordinary Collection of Antique and Modern Silks, Brocades and Other Fabrics. Remarkable Examples of Needle Work and Beautiful Kimonos. Also Important Collection of Japanese Pottery, Bronzes, Prints, Ancient Illustrated Books and Painted Screens by Old Masters. February 16–18, 1899.
—. Mr. Bunkio Matsuki Announces and Exhibition and Sale by Auction of a Wonderful Collection of Silk Screens and Fabrics and Ancient Wood Carvings from Buddhis Temples, Wonderful Satsuma Collection from the Lord of Riukiu Rare Keramic [sic] Arts, Gold Lacquers, Ukiuoye [sic] Paintings and Bronzes, Personally Collected by the Late Mr. S. Ikeda of Kioto, and Costly Treasure Recently Brought from China. Boston, March 27–30, 1901.
Frelinghuysen, Alice Cooney, Gary Tinterow, Susan Alyson Stein, Gretchen Wold, and Julia Meech. Splendid Legacy: The Havemeyer Collection. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1993.
“Genuine Japanese Goods and Art Material.” The Journal of Education Vol. 60, No. 2 (June 30, 1904): 49.
George R. Rucker, Boston. Auction of Stone Garden Ornaments, Carving, Pottery, and Pewters. Boston, April 14–16, 1909.
H. M. Rich & Company. Descriptive Catalogue of an Important Collection of Japanese Pottery, Porcelain, Bronzes, Brocade, Ivory, Screens etc. Selected by Mr. Bunkio Matsuki of Kobe, Japan and Boston. Salem, February 21–26, 1898.
John J. Henry & Company. Catalogue of Ancient and Medieval Pewters of China and Japan. Old Wood Carvings, Rare Helmets & Famous Blades. Also Stone Garden Ornaments and Other Objects of Interest Gathered on a Recent Trip to Japan by Bunkio Matsuki. February 28 and March 1–2, 1905.
—. Catalogue of Ancient and Medieval Pottery and Porcelains of China. Important Japanese Helmets. Old Wood Carvings, Satsuma Ware and Modern Leathers. Also Stone Garden Ornaments and Other Objects of Interest Gathered on a Recent Visit to Japan by Bunkio Matsuki. Copley Hall, Boston, February 27–28 and March 1, 1906.
Johnson, Claire D. “Domestic Architecture in Victorian Salem: A Lafayette Street Sampling.” Essex Institute Historical Collections 115 (1979): 172–182.
Leonard & Company’s Galleries. “Catalogue of Garden Ornaments in Stone and Bronze. Also, Wood Carvings, Ivories, Pottery, Porcelain and Paintings.” Copley Hall, Boston, January 29–30 and February 1–2, 1904.
—. Catalogue of Rare Objects in Wood, Pewter and Brass Illustrating the Art of Old Japan. Copley Hall, Boston November 9–11, 1903.
—. Descriptive Catalogue of an Important Collection of Japanese and Chinese Pottery, Porcelain, Bronzes, Brocades, Prints, Embroideries, Kakemono, Screens, Ivories, and Gold Lacquires. Selected by Mr. Bunkio Matsuki of Kobe, Japan and Boston. Boston, April 21–30, 1898.
Matsuki, Bunkio. Catalogue of Japanese Artists Materials. Boston: Ralph E. Meacom, 1904.
—. Catalogue of Japanese Artists’ Materials. Boston: Bunkio Matsuki, 1899.
—. Guide No. 4: Japanese Garden of the Brooklyn Botanic Garden. Brooklyn: Brooklyn Botanic Garden, July 1930.
—. Guide No. 6: Japanese Potted Trees (Hachinoki). Brooklyn: Brooklyn Botanic Garden, November 1931.
—. Lotus, Special Holiday Number in Memoriam James McNeill Whistler. Vol. 1, No. 1 (December 1903).
Miyosh, Manabu. “Album of Hana-shōbu.” Translated by Bunkio Matsuki and George M. Reed. American Iris Society Bulletin 44 (July 1932): 3–29.
Morse, Edward Sylvester. Catalogue of the Morse collection of Japanese pottery. Cambridge: Riverside Press, 1901.
Museum of Fine Arts. Exhibition of Japanese Paintings in Watercolors and Oil by Members of the Pacific Art Society of Tokio [sic]. Boston: Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, November 28–December 10, 1904.
Prominent Americans Interested in Japan and Prominent Japanese in America. New York: Japan and America, 1903.
Rodman, Tara. “A Modernist Audience: The Kawakami Troupe, Matsuki Bunkio, and Boston Japonisme.” Theater Journal Vol. 65, No. 4 (December 2013): 489–505.
Salem Evening News. “Real Japanese Goods.” July 10, 1890.
Sharf, Frederic A., ed. “A Pleasing Novelty”: Bunkio Matsuki and the Japan Craze in Victorian Salem. Salem: Peabody & Essex Museum with Essex Institute, Historical Collections, 1993.
St. Clair, Michael. The Great Chinese Art Transfer: How So Much of China’s Art Came to America. Lanham, Maryland: Fairleigh Dickinson University Press, 2016.
Stella, Jeanne. Historic Streets of Salem, Massachusetts. Charleston: The History Press, 2020.
Walpole Galleries. The Important Collection of Frederick W. Hunter, Esq., of New York. Including as Well All of Mr. Hunter’s Japanese Collections. Japanese Books, Japanese Ivories Which Have Been Exhibited at the Metropolitan Museum and English Books on Japan with His Catalogues and Books of Reference on Japanese Prints. New York, March 12, 1919.
Warren Chambers, Boston. Catalogue of Ancient Chinese Tapestries, Porcelains and Pottery, Wood Carvings, Armor, Helmets, Blue and White Porcelains, Stone Garden Ornaments, and Old Japanese Prints. Boston, March 22–23 and 25–26, 1907.
—. We Shall Conduct a Special Sale of Old Japanese Prints Comprising Representative Work of Such Famous Artists as Harunobu, Utamaro, Kiyonaga, Hokusai and Hiroshige. Annex, Boston, February 27 and March 13, 1908.
Yoshihara, Mari. Embracing the East: White Women and American Orientalism. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2003.
Archives
Bunkio Matsuki Ephemera kept in James Duncan Phillips Library, Peabody & Essex Museum, Salem Massachusetts.
Updated August 2024
Download PDF Biography
Related Collections at the National Museum of Asian Art
Related Smithsonian Records
