Rare Cloisonne Enamel Paint Brush Sleeve. Late Edo period. Circa 1860.

Rare Cloisonne Enamel Paint Brush Sleeve, with open ends. Circa 1860. Late Edo period. Attributed to Kaji Tsunekichi * (1803–83) who was responsible for the renaissance of Japanese cloisonne.

Extremely high-quality cloisonné with brass wire and various coloured enamels. The enamel decoration ''minitiarised'' and of similar scale to the finest of cloisonne-enamel ''ojime'' detailed bead work.

Body is decorated mainly with patterns of Karakusa foliage and Kiku flowers. Various shaped panels surrounding the sleeve, decorated with flowers, foliage and traditional Japanese geometrical patterns symbolising petals and blossom. This is a very rare item that would have held paint brushes upright and sitting in the well of the slate palette. Of the finest detail and museum quality. Superb.

Condition: Excellent and original.

Dimensions (approx):

Height = 12.5cm

Diameter = 10 cm

* 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.