Just curious if anyone here bid on, or was watching, those recent Anraku vader auctions. The final prices were completely insane meaning that they will remain out of reach for all but the few wealthiest collectors. Too bad for me that this is my favorite line of "new" vinyls.
I did not notice these - presumably they were all on YJA, and my Net access has been minimal for the last week-plus ... Assuming these sales have ended, would you share the links?
$1700.00 for one and close to $1200.00 for the other. I passed on the Vader Cambodia when it came out because I thought $300.00 was way too much
really? that seems weird, I would think just like on ebay, that there is a way to view completed auctions but I guess it explains why nobody has ever explained how it's done...
If you watchlist the items, you can view them after they end. If not, there doesn't seem to be a way to search completed auctions.
Those prices are crazy. But what can we expect, japanese vinyl collectors in Japan and even some here are willing to throw huge amounts of money (relatively speaking) at these toys. As long as collectors are willing to dump huge sums of money into the hobby for single pieces prices will continue to escalate? Im just curious if these prices will continue on this path and when the bubble will burst?
I bid on these but got my butt kicked. I do wonder also about the sustainability of these prices...the low numbers on most Anraku stuff seriously helps. Also I don't think many if any at all of these particular vader versions were offered to US customers. To my limited knowledge/memory I think these were made (or given) to friends in Japan, thus making these particular ones even more rare (compared to the vader cambodia or dako). I remember seeing a pic of a vader Goga at some point...does anyone have a photo?
The Anraku stuff and it's creator in comparison to other figure/toy (art to some) lines just seems to have unique characteristics that imo will keep it's prices pretty high. Not much is known about Anraku himself, from what I recall reading on his site, he's an older fellow who was an animator by trade ( what he worked on would be interesting to know), He supposably lives in a hard to get to reclusive mountain home. He paints all his figures himself, and paints most of them extremely well. I don't think I know or heard of anyone that has ever been able to contact him directly or has ever met him. Does he attend toy festivals in Japan or set up? I've never seen any pics of him if he has. As Z mentioned, he doesn't crank out volumes of figures especially on a regular basis, very limited numbers of his stuff are available and randomly released. His figure designs ( not all imo ) are incredible and some of the most original. I think all this builds a very unique aura around him and his work contributing to the high prices for his stuff. The only other place I've ever seen those pieces that were on YJA before were in the photos of the Moonstock store's collection.
Thanks for the info Oni. I regret everything I've ever had to sell of Anraku's. It hurt more than anything, but shit happens in life and it was that or get attacked by creditors, ugh. Greatest toys on earth, so much fun. Seriously, he should do a book of his illustrations.
ANRAKU is a myth. i make these in my garage and then ship them to my japanese resort home where my consigliere in turn puts them on the market.
I remember reading somewhere that he used to work on the Sazae san series, either the manga or animated version.
Sure I can post a pic tonight if someone doesn't beat me to it. Did you indeed get one of these? If so, congrats. I'd like to see some more pics when you get him.
