Japanese Totai Shippo Small Vase. Cloisonne Tree Bark with Butterfly / Flowers. Circa 1890.

Japanese Totai Shippo Small Vase. Cloisonne Tree Bark with Butterfly and Flowers. Circa 1890.

Finely rendered in the Totai Shippo technique on porcelain. Butterfly visiting flowers, with foliage, lotus leaves and flower pods (Katydid). Fine decodation speaks aloud of natural symbiosis at the end of the summer, with autumnal withering leaves. Superbly decorated.

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

Dimensions:

Height = 15.5 cm

Diameter (widest point) = 8.5 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.