Anonymous

Meiji period, 19/20th century

1868-1912

Dish

A large round dish with a central panel and complicated geometrical patterns around the outer edges. The wirework is gilt copper wire intricately laid to a very high standard. The central panel has a deep turquoise ground where a dragonfly hovers over a weaved basket of fruit. The dragonfly akidzu is the emblem of japan akidzushima and victory.

Goto was known as one of the first accomplished cloisonné artists in the early Meiji period, supposedly starting in Nagoya and moving to Yokoama circa 1872-4, ultimately with a workshop there at Uchida-cho. He had exhibited at many world and domestic expositions winning a multitude of prizes. In 1881 he won at the second Domestic Exposition, where he showed gold wirework and was commended for the “most improved technique”. Goto’s work was of a high standard throughout his carrier and good enough to be commissioned by the Royal House of Italy for King Umberto (1844-1990) and his wife Margherita of Savoy (1851-1926)

Unsigned but Attributed to

Seizaburo Goto of Honcho-dori

305mm

Anonymous

Meiji period, 19/20th century

1868-1912

Koro

A beautifully enamelled koro incense burner with rim decoration of butterflies and floral patterns. The body consists of a very fine yellow mottled enamel, circular floral panels with one pair of phoenix “Ho-Ho” and one dragon. The dragon is flying through clouds which often represents an emblem of success in life in Japan. Gilt wire with a rich dark green enamel lining.

unsigned

103mm x 90mm

Anonymous

Meiji period, 19/20th century

1868-1912

Vase

A beautifully detailed large cloisonné vase in fine silver and gold wire. Matt blue counter enamel finish base and inner body, Solid silver rims, and dark blue enamel ground. Beautifully graded enamel chrysanthemums in white and purple with butterflies overhead.

Unsigned

Attributed to Hayashi Kodenji or Hayashi Kihyoe

301mm x 150mm

British Museum registration number 2011,3010.22 Bijutsu sekai 美術世界 Watanabe Shotei (渡辺省亭)

Anonymous

Meiji period 19th/20th century

1868-1912

Cloisonne Panel

An interesting enamel and silver wire cloisonne panel. The panel depicts white and yellow cherry blossoms with grey tone branches and leaves on a blue and white sky ground. The silver wires are extremally thin to the point that it is hard to notice them.

Stylistically the panel is very likely to be by the artist Namikawa Sosuke, He was to become one of the most highly respected cloisonne artists for his wireless technique making his enamel works look like ink paintings. He would copy artists of the time and would make many copies of the work by the artist and painter Watanabe Shotei. Watanabe would paint flowers, birds and nature.

British museam Registraion number 1979,0305,0.506.1 Seitei kacho gafu 省亭花鳥画譜 Watanabe Shotei (渡辺省亭)

There are very close relationships to prints by Watanabe Shotei and this panel and many known works with the same subject and colours of blossom exist. This panel could have been a standalone piece but Namikawa Sosuke was also known to make panels for sliding cabinet doors where there could be an accompanying panel with maybe a bird or animal.

Namikawa Sosuke mastered the blending of enamels allowing the colours to mix seamlessly into one another. This work does have wires and would attribute it to earlier works heading towards his mastering of the wireless technique he would be so well known for.   

Unsigned Attributed to Namikawa Sosuke

Size Panel120mm x 260mm

Frame 322mm x 164mm

Ito

Meiji period 19th/20th century

1868-1912

Vase

Small but beautifully executed cloisonne vase in fine silver wire and polychrome enamels. A small songbird is perched on a branch of a blossom tree on olive-green ground. Some of the blossom is in full bloom and others are still buds waiting to open.

The vase is signed Ito although it is uncertain exactly which Ito this could be. Looking at the quality and techniques used in the vase it is likely to be Ito Soemon. Very little is known about Soemon other than he won silver at the Chicago 1893 and St. Louis 1904 exhibitions for his cloisonne work.

Signed Ito (probably Soemon)

Size 60mm x 63mm

Anonymous

Meiji period, 19/20th century

1868-1912

Lidded Vase

Six-sided vessel or lidded vase, each panel depicting different motifs. Many floral patterns with butterflies and birds. One panel in particular with three cranes. The crane “tsuru” in japan is sacred and represents longevity and good luck, it was believed to have a life span of thousands of years. The finial is a solid silver chrysanthemum and the vessel has a gilt inner liner. The vessel is done is fine gilt wire and a vast number of different enamels have been used.

Attributed to Namikawa Yasuyuki

106mm x 80mm

Anonymous

Meiji period, 19th century

1868-1912

Koro

A round four-sided cloisonné koro decorated panels depicting butterflies, flowers, and a Ho-o phoenix. Fine gilt silver wire, gilt feet, and finial. Nagoya style workmanship.

Unsigned

118mm x 105mm x 105mm

 

Hayashi Kodenji

Meiji period, 19/20th century

1868-1912

Vase

A small rounded square-shaped vase with solid silver rims, silver and gold wire. Sparrows’ in-between blossom on a dark purple ground with extremely small and complicated wirework to the rims.

Hayashi Kodenji I (1831-1915) was the student of Hayashi Shogoru (1835?-96) who was arguably the most important student of Kaji Tsunekichi the farter of Japanese cloisonné.  

Hayashi Kodenji I became one of the most well-known cloisonné artists in japan during the Meiji era. In and around the 1880’s he was one of the founders and subsequent head of the Shippo-cho enamellers’ guild, around 1894 he opened a school to train future enamellers’ until its closure in 1907.

Signed Nagoya Hayashi Ko[denji]

120mm x 45mm