IDENTIFY [[]] CLOISONNE

IMPORTANT Japanese PERIOD 1880-1920

     By 1880 and after, export demands exploded. China's cloisonne production increased significantly for the  European and American markets. Quality suffered, due to the mass produced, sloppy workmanship of these decorative and utilitarian items. Motifs became more mundane and repetitive, with much copied traditional subjects, and symbolic nature motifs. The market was flooded with smoking implements, decorative objects, figurines, and small dinnerware accessories.

      For Japan, this period of 1880 to 1920 became the golden era of Japanese master cloisonne craftsmen. After participating in International Exhibitions, bringing to France, in 1867, their first cloisonne exhibits. With the years and their increased mastery, entitling them to prizes for their superb cloisonne items, Japan became the most sought-after exporter of cloisonne, replacing China. Pieces were designed and created over many months in the master's studios. Keeping the quality very high and the demand high as well.

     The irony is that after Japanese cloisonne was internationally recognized and praised, creating a huge demand for more pieces for the middle classes, this trigered a huge production from Japan with much less refinement and shoddy workmanship. Eventually causing a backlash and the downfall of some of the more reputable makers. Demand for their exclusive and very pricey masterpieces declined with their studios closed by the 1920s.

    That's why there is, and was such a difference in price between Chinese and Japanese cloisonne produced during that short 40 year period. Even today, these Japanese masterpieces have values in the $20,000 to $50,000 dollar range or more.

    In this section, using three columns, I show the wide variety of Japanese cloisonne pieces compared to their Chinese counterparts. You can go to the Japanese MARKS page for example of each Japanese master-craftsman's mark and product if I have it.

    While Chinese cloisonne remained traditional, staying with their tried and true motifs and renditions. Japan's cloisonne craftsmen created at least 9 new types of cloisonne between 1870 and 1910, applied to free standing objects:

1. the black opaque and glossy wirelesscloisonne background with fine cloison motifs
2. the translucentenamel over relief ground without cloison, often red
3. the stippled foilground with clear graduated enamels and applied cloison motifs
4. the brocades and motifs using goldstone enamels
5. the moriage cloisonne with heavier relief enamel applied motifs on smooth wireless ground
6. the elevated cloisonne with relief cloison motifs applied to a translucent wireless ground
7. the cloisonne applied to ceramic bodies
8. the graduated opaque wireless cloisonne motifs
9. the plique-a-jour cloisonne
10. and various combinations of the above.

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click on images for the largest version

CHINESE CLOISONNE	JAPANESE CLOISONNE	JAPANESE CLOISONNE	JAPANESE CLOISONNE
Fine Pair Bottle Vases Late Qing C1900 OPEN WORK CLOISONNE BOX 4 SEASON Floral C1900 TYPICAL DRAGON MATCHBOX C1910 and later Floral and Figural Band BOX C1900 Mixed MOTIFS WHITE 4 PieceTableware SET SMALL CONDIMENT C1920 Cigarette or Tobacco Box C1920 and later Ho Bird Temple Jar C1920 Unusual Fine Desk Box C1905	EUROPEAN INFLUENCE CHARGER OPEN WORK JAPAN CLOISONNE 1880 1890 JAPAN CENSER TRI-FOOTED WHITE CLOISONNE SMALL MEIJI FLORAL BOX TRI-FOOTED UNMARKED RUSSIAN Influenced Open Work Japanese Antique Cloisonne Vase 1870 Akasuke Morning Glory Ball Vase C1910 Intricate Meiji Brocade Charger C1880 Arabesque Mixed Designs Plate Meiji 1910 Quality Export	ANDO Unusual Color Motif Box C1920s Meiji Charger Floral Bird Motifs Brocade Wireless Ground 1900 Pair Summer Story Vases Produced 1900-1920 Meiji Charger Victorian Motifs Brocade Wireless Ground 1900 Meiji Translucent Flame Vase Circa 1910 High Quality Japanese Box Circa 1900 Ando Style KINKOZAN SATSUMA CLOISONNE VASE 1900 RARE PIECE CERAMIC Fancy Goldstone Jar or Caddy Dragon Brocade C1910	Lobed Kyoto Style Jar Meiji C1910 Ink Artwork Motif Tray Meiji C1900 Meiji Mat Enamel Bottle Vase Circa 1900 Mat Enamel Pair Vases Japanese Export 1880's JAPAN BUCKET OPEN WORK EUROPEAN INFLUENCE 1890 JAPAN BUCKET OPEN WORK EUROPEAN INFLUENCE 1890
Large Colorful Floral Vase C1910-20 Striking Vase Floral Reserve C1920-30 Cracked Ice Ground Floral Circa 1920s	SILVER WIRE DRAGON VASE C1890 Red WIRELESS ENAMEL Muted Clean Sparse Motifs C1920 Hayashi Kodenji III Small Kyoto Style Vase Meiji C1900	Valuable Meiji Silver Mount Vase Circa 1900 Fine ANDO Vase silver mounts Circa 1910 Presentation Vase 1907 HO Birds Wireless Blue Ground	Rare Mix Brocade Wireless Ground Circa 1900 Signed 1 of Pair Vases TRADITIONAL SHIPPO-MURA 1910 Mixed Wire Unmarked Tea Dust Goldstone Bottle Vase 1910 Unmarked Japanese
Large Floral Ginger Jar C1920 and later Pair Tobacco Leaf Bottle Vases Late Qing C1900 Floral Yellow Temple Jar Circa 1920s and later Common 4 Ball Feet Box Green Enamel Circa 1920s	Ho-Bird Brocade Jar C1910 Small Ginbari Floral Vase Meiji C1900 ANDO Lift Top Scholar Box Meiji C1900 Small Tea Caddy or Jar Meiji C1910 Tsuiki Relief Carp Bowl Vase Meiji C1920	Lobed Relief Surface Vase Silver Rim C1920 Fancy Intricate Dragon Charger C1900-1920 Two Handled Shishi Vase FUKU Mark Meiji C1890 Expensive Kyoto Style Box Meiji C1910	Fabulous Namikawa Y. Bowl C1900 Kyoto Pair Bright Fall Floral Vases C1920 Kyoto Namikawa Style Tray Meiji C1890 White Floral Cigarette Jar Part of a Set 1920s Elaborate Motifs Jar or Caddy Meiji C1900

Copyright 2009-2011

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