Large Japanese Totai Shippo Charger. Cloisonne Tree Bark - Picturesque Scenery. Circa 1890.

Large Masterpiece Japanese Totai Shippo Charger. Cloisonne Tree Bark, with picturesque scenery. Circa 1890.

The creativity and artwork is superlative, and of the highest artisan quality (notably the speckling in the birds feathers and volume of very fine wire-work). Extremely rare.

Finely decorated in the Totai Shippo technique on porcelain, with birds sitting in trees, fans, boats in harbour and landscape, with Mount Fuji in the background. Finely rendered swirling motifs throughout, and geometrical repeating mosaic patterns to edge. An extremely difficult process with superb workmanship and superb colour contrast. The rim and rear of charger decorated in underglaze deep blue.

Condition: Urushi lacquer work and porcelain in excellent condition.
[Display stand not included].

Dimensions:

Diameter = 35 cm
Depth = 4.5 cm

*Totai shippo, meaning "body cloisonné," is a Japanese ceramic technique where urushi lacquer cloisonne decoration is applied to a ceramic or porcelain base. This difficult technique was developed around 1868 by Sukamoto Kaisuke. Totai shippo or “Tree-bark” cloisonne is relatively fragile due to the delicate multi-layering and surfacing technique.