The American business of Yamanaka and Company, Inc., is now under the supervision and control of the Alien Property Custodian of the United States of America under the vesting by the Custodian of 100% of the capital stock of the three American stores of Yamanaka & Company, Inc., located in New York, Boston, and Chicago.

During World War II the Japanese art dealer Yamanaka Sadajiro had his business seized by the U.S. government along with his stock of thousands of pieces of art. The subsequent liquidation of his stock produced some of the most significant pieces in the Hermitage Museum and Gardens collection.

This exhibition examined the history of Yamanaka’s business in the United States and abroad and highlighted the war period purchases made by the Hermitage Museum. Using auction catalogs, sales receipts, personal letters, and objects from the collection, “Sold! Buying Asian Art at American Auctions” exhibited how those years became prolific acquisition periods for institutions across the U.S. and the differences between buying during times of peace and those of war.