Pair Japanese Totai Shippo Vases. Cloisonne Tree Bark - Birds / Flowers. Circa 1890.

Pair Japanese Totai Shippo Vases. Cloisonne Tree Bark with Birds, Butterflies and Flowers. Circa 1890.

The creativity and artwork is superlative, and of the highest artisan quality. Finely rendered in the Totai Shippo technique on porcelain. Vases superbly decorated with bird sitting in a branch with poeonies flowering in full bloom, foliage fruiting with berries and visiting butterfly.

An extremely difficult process with superb workmanship, rich colours and beautiful contrast. Porcelain vessel with the finest of Cloisonné work incorporating Traditional Japanese Urushi Lacquer.

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

Dimensions:

Height = 21 cm

Diameter (widest point) = 9.5 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.