Japanese Totai Shippo Large Round Box - Cloisonne Tree Bark, with Birds / Flowers. Circa 1890.

Masterpiece Japanese Totai Shippo Round Box, with Cover. Cloisonne Tree Bark, with Birds and Flowers. Circa 1890. Extremely rare container (or Japanese Kogo) in this large size.

The creativity and artwork is superlative, and of the highest artisan quality. Finely rendered in the Totai Shippo technique on porcelain. Superbly decorated with birds sitting on a branch with poeonies flowering in full bloom and foliage fruiting with berries. Superb. An extremely difficult process with superb workmanship, rich colours and beautiful contrast.

Condition: Superb original.
[Display stand not included].

Dimensions:

Height = 13.5 cm

Diameter = 22 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.

**A kogo is usually a small, lidded container used in the Japanese tea ceremony (chanoyu) to hold incense. They are crucial for creating a specific atmosphere and are often chosen to match the season, featuring diverse, artistic designs including animals, flowers, and fruits, typically made from ceramics, lacquer, or metal.