For almost 50 years directors Robert Joyce and Jo Maindonald, have pursued their passion for antiques, art and aesthetics 

“I am passionate about Japanese antiques and art developed over nearly 50 years of visiting Japan, the aesthetics are just so refined, so inventive yet functional”
Robert Joyce

Robert is one of the few ‘gaijin’ or foreigners, privileged to be able to attend auctions normally closed to the public, which has been key to their success after a chance meeting on their first visit. They carefully hand selected and ‘uncovered rare and unique pieces due to their relationships with auctioneers, collectors and dealers built over many decades- there are many fascinating stories to be told from the old days

“Kazari is more than just ancient word, it is a beautiful philosophy embracing a commitment to beauty, craftsmanship, design, sustainability and respect for the long life of an object”
Jo Maindonald.

Jo says that they discovered the archaic Japanese word Kazari in an old 'jibiki' (dictionary) and adopted it as their name. It has many levels of meaning including ‘creating the extraordinary out of the ordinary’; where utilitarian objects are transformed in their making into something special; a piece of art that functions, delights and surprises; to take what could be a simple functional piece of furniture, for instance, can be seen a show piece in its’ own right. A wonderful aspect of buying an antique object is that it is in now recognized as ‘sustainable shopping’, no timber or natural resources have been cut down from current resources and the wood or metal has aged to have a rich patina and depth in colour.

Our first visit to Japan.

“In 1978 we were both amazed and in awe of the ‘electronic’ wonder of Japan, full of vending machines and super-fast trains, neon signs which we often referred to it as a kind of Disneyland for adults. At the same time the ancient temples, traditional gardens, landscapes and architecture nourished the soul.
With fresh eyes we recognized the ‘beauty in simplicity’ of the functional and practical forms made centuries and decades before, the careful selection of timbers that the highly skilled traditional craftsmen made use of to create all manner of things and including storage chests, which we had an eye for buying right from the beginning.”
Jo Maindonald 

Robert and Jo were soon recognized as Japanese specialists among Australia’s leading authorities and Kazari has enjoyed a long-standing reputation for the authenticity of the antiques and folk art, personally selected in Japan.

Broadening the horizons.
Bali was their first love before Japan and they often visited. Robert and Jo’s
youngest daughter married into a Balinese family and now they have three beautiful grand daughters and now Bali is a fixture on their travel itinerary, also serving as an opportunity to ‘broaden their buying horizons’. They also buy reproduction and contemporary bronze sculptures and art along with antique and aged teak benches from throughout the region.

The work of Indonesian and Balinese craftsmen is excellent, skills often passed
down through generations, captured the eyes and the hearts of Robert and Jo. They were also introduced to some talented Balinese cabinetmakers, and are now offering an eclectic range of contemporary “Japandi “ from their own their simple, exclusive designs.

All the contemporary teak furniture and benches are made from teak from
Indonesian Govt. approved timber plantations: approved sustainably grown timber
with government approval. This is all in line with Kazari’s commitment to quality
craftsmanship, sustainability and respect for the long life of an object.