Masterpiece Japanese Cloisonne Enamel Leaping Koi Tray. Circa 1890.

Masterpiece Japanese Cloisonne Enamel Leaping Koi Tray. Circa 1890. Signed*.

Important (Masterpiece) early japanese cloisonne charger. Attributed to Workshop of Kaji Tsunekichi (1803–83)**. Early fine wire work and enamelling technique of the period. Museum quality.

Superbly decorated Japanese cloisonne piece (early style decoration). Central decoration with Leaping Koi, and further Koi submerged with tail above water. Surrounded by elaborate brocade, stylised waves, mosaic crosshatching with geometrical shapes, flowers and grasses. Use of detailed cloisonne technique for the era, and of the highest artisan skills. Extremely skilled brass wire work and multi-coloured enamels in deep reds, blues, greens, yellow and ivory. The dark green enamel is unique to this era and functional in anchoring the enamel in early Japanese cloisonne work.

Condition: Good condition. Some imperfections to the cloisonne enamel cells typical of manufacturing process. Some enamel losses to reverse. Old wire hanging hook.
[Display stand not included in Sale].

Dimensions:

Height = 36 cm;

Width = 27 cm

Depth = 4.5 cm (approx).

*The dark signature markings in script are likely Japanese characters, but they are not clear enough to read definitively.

** In the 1830s, Kaji Tsunekichi of Nagoya obtained a piece of Cloisonné enamel and deconstructed it in order to examine how it had been made. He then reworked the piece to produce a small dish with wired enamel decoration. By the 1850s he had opened a Workshop (Nagoya), taken on students and was appointed as the official maker of Cloisonné in the Owari Province.