This very small cloisonne lidded box is totally unusual. Starting at the top, it is fully enameled all the way around the top, sides, bottom and inside. There is a hinged lid. The top is decorated with a weird demon face - much like those masks seen in Chinese Opera - for that reason I am attributing the piece to Chinese origin - even though it does have the gin bari technique used by the Japanese cloisonne makers. On the bottom is a series of Oriental characters which a kind friend has traslate... Click for details
|