Huge Japanese Totai Shippo Porcelain Charger in Cloisonne Tree Bark. Circa 1890. Signed.

Huge Japanese Totai Shippo Porcelain Charger. Cloisonne Tree Bark with Cranes and Mount Fuji. Circa 1890. Signed on reverse.

Finely decorated in the very difficult Totai Shippo technique on porcelain. Superb detail to cranes with finely feathered decoration. Extremely rare and a Masterpiece of artisan technique.

An extremely difficult process with superb workmanship and superb colour contrast. The rear of charger signed, and with impressed factory mark.

Condition: Urushi lacquer work and porcelain in excellent condition. Usual kiln tripod support firing marks. Very heavy substantial piece (no restoration).
[Display stand not included].

Dimensions:

Diameter = 45 cm

Depth = 6 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.