Catalog: Antiques: Regional Art: Asian: Japanese: Enamel (7)

Very large pot covered in cloisonné enamel on copper. Silver wires.Dragons Hoho and butterfly of curious design. I seem to remember the association dragon butterfly to a symbolic but I don't remember which one A slight accident really insignificant at the base of the lid catch that can be seen on photo and a lack of thickness of enamel that could not be polished being too thin, however at this place there the enamel completely covers the base metal. After firing this should not be visible and it only appeared when polishing. The polisher made the choice not to sand too deep and to leave this more shiny part unpolished. This pot was attributed by the former collector to Namikawa Yasuyuki as one of his first creations, before the classic production we all know. There was no reference or proof attached. I started to do research to confirm or deny. Given the large size it would be an exceptional work. I have already found the very particular shape of the lid on a namikawa censer but I have not found this shape elsewhere yet. I will provide information as the research progresses. Height : 40cm Diameter: 36cm Best photos later. I found 2 cloisonnés with the same lid.I attach the photo. One is in the Khalili collection the other is illustrated in the book "Kyo shippo monyo shu" by Nakahara Tessen also by Yasuyuki. For the moment I have seen thousands of japanese cloisonné from this period and these are the only 2 lids of the same shape known.The one I present to you is the third.

Small gilt copper pot, decorated with flowers in cloisonné enamel. No artist signature but excellent quality. Small precious object Height: 6cm Diameter: 8cm. Good condition. Japon Taisho period.

Pair of small vases in cloisonné enamel on gilded copper. A beautiful identical landscape is represented on each vase, fish, rivers, birds and flowers on a background of a luminous blue sky. The wires are in silver, the base is in gilded copper. The gilding is now almost completely missing, except on the base. They are both in perfect condition, which for a pair is rare. Height 125mm. Japanese work from the end of the 19th century.

Vase in cloisonné enamel on metal.Rose decoration. Mark of Ando.Japan Taisho period. Metal vase, probably copper, covered with green enamel, partly cloisonné with silver wire and partly "musen" (without wire), chrome metal borders. Stylized rose decoration. Ando's mark struck in the metal below the bottom edge. Good condition. Height 21cm.

Cloisonne enamel vase on hammered copper base. The meticulously positioned wires are in silver, as are the borders. The decor is simple, showing a bridge between two hills but exceptional because of its historical interest. Indeed it is a vase commemorating the bold construction of an aqueduct by a Japanese electricity company in the 1900s. The Chinese characters written below must relate the event, date it and also probably give the name of the creative artist or that of the enameling workshop. We knew of another identical vase that was on sale in the United States a few years ago, but it was broken. This one is in good condition except for a tiny crack above the bridge, visible on the photos and 2 minor dents on the silver edges without affecting the enamel, also visible on the photos.Japan Meiji perhaps Taisho H: 375mm

Ginbari and Musen enamelled silver vase Fish decor. Japan Meiji late 19th century.The lower part enamelled in celestial blue, decorated with fish in ginbari (incisions on the base metal) and musen (enameling without wires of much more complex realization). A dragon wraps around the collar. In the middle a finely damascened gold ring. Artist's mark below, signed with 2 characters incised in a gold cartridge. We have not found which artist it was, however, in the Khalili collection, there is a vase with also enameled decoration (musen and ginbari) decorated with identical fish which is signed Takasaki, an unknown enameller who would have worked in the workshop of Namikawa Sosuké. On the neck appear the scratches of the dragons which have been subtly chiseled by the artist for an original natural rendering of the same, the enamelling of the fish is exceptionally realistic, the scales, their iridescent colors, the slight cloudiness of the water. Great art. A similar model, but easier to make in cloisonné, with ostentatious but unartistic colors and design, was sold in 2010 for $116,000. Japanese work of goldsmithery and exceptional enamelling, Meiji period end of the 19th century. A shock to the shoulder without loss of enamel (see detail on photo). Height: 168mm.

Small cloisonné enamel vase, dragon and phoenix decor. Silver wires. Golden border. Japan Meiji period. H; 105mm. Good condition, slightly worn gilding. Artist's signature incised below.