The white blossoms of the plum tree, with their delicate fragrance, have been likened to a beautiful woman and her feminine charms, whereas an ancient, twisted blossoming tree branch is emblematic of strength, endurance and the vitality of old age. Plum blossoms are often seen in combination with pine and bamboo (“shochikubai”), and this combination signifies lasting happiness and longevity.

In ginbari, a copper or brass body is generally covered with a thin sheet of silver foil which frequently has a stippled or other repetitive design embossed upon it. The foil is then covered with transparent or translucent enamel, so that the reflective quality of the foil enhances the color and gives the piece a shimmering effect. The background portion of the piece has some similarity to basse-taille in that light traverses the transparent enamel layer to shine from the hollows and ridges of the design. The foreground in gin-bari is like standard cloisonné in that it is made of wired cells filled with colored enamels, either transparent, semi-transparent or opaque. Akasuke is a type of ginbari in which a brilliantly-polished copper body is punched, often in an overall stippled design, and a transparent red enamel (hence the name “pigeon blood”) is applied over the entire object. The combination of the transparent red enamel and bright copper base gives rise to a deep reflective look which is quite pleasing, resulting in a creation of the utmost delicacy and subtlety with a three-dimensional effect.

CONDITION is excellent; no damage. DIMENSIONS: 3 ¾” high (9.5 cm) high, 3 ½” (8.9 cm) diameter.

The Inaba Company, founded by Inaba Nanaho in 1887, was one of the foremost cloisonné workshops in Kyoti during Japan’s Golden Age of cloisonne. It continued to produce cloisonne of the highest quality until the late 1980's. Cloisonne is an artcraft which requires great technical knowledge as well as the skill to produce an aesthetically pleasing item using a combination of vitreous enamel and metal wires. The wires are arranged in designs upon the metal body, into the compartments (“cloisons”) of which the enamels are packed. The item is then fired repeatedly to bring the enamels above the level of the wires and then buffed and polished many times.

The elegant design of the grape clusters and leaves has been executed in a free and natural manner in colorful enamels within silver and gilded brass wires, and the naturalistic shading is superb. Thin tendrils formed with gilded wires curl out from the ends of the vines. The subtle variations in the color of the leaves have been created by the careful use of red, green and yellow enamels. There is an almost three-dimensional quality to the leaves, which is a testament to the remarkable technical skills of the enameller. The way in which the designs of the two vases mirror each other when placed side by side suggests that they were intended to be displayed as a pair.

The Ando Cloisonne Company, which was founded in 1880, is the oldest and largest corporation involved in manufacturing and dealing in shippo (cloisonne) in Japan. It has continued to produce fine cloisonné enamel wares up to the present day. Their products were first introduced to the world at the Chicago Exposition in 1893. Since then, the company has received many awards and prizes in numerous international expositions both in Japan and abroad, and in 1900 it was granted appointment to the Imperial Household.

The Ando Cloisonne Company, which was founded in 1880, is the oldest and largest corporation involved in manufacturing and dealing in shippo (cloisonne) in Japan. It has continued to produce fine cloisonné enamel wares up to the present day. Their products were first introduced to the world at the Chicago Exposition in 1893. Since then, the company has received many awards and prizes in numerous international expositions both in Japan and abroad, and in 1900 it was granted appointment to the Imperial Household. An identical Ando vase was offered for sale at Sotheby’s “Japanese Works of Art” on September 20, 1996, Lot #399, with a presale estimate of $1,500-$2,000.

The green enamel base is marked with the Ando trademark in silver wires, and the foot rim is stamped “silver.” The various shades of green enamel and the juxtaposition of wired and wireless cloisonné designs provide an extremely subtle and refined quality to this work, an understated elegance known as “shibui.”

The Ando Cloisonne Company, which was founded in 1880, is the oldest and largest corporation involved in manufacturing and dealing in shippo (cloisonne) in Japan. It has continued to produce fine cloisonné enamel wares up to the present day. Their products were first introduced to the world at the Chicago Exposition in 1893. Since then, the company has received many awards and prizes in numerous international expositions both in Japan and abroad, and in 1900 it was granted appointment to the Imperial Household.

The white blossoms of the plum tree, with their delicate fragrance, have been likened to a beautiful woman and her feminine charms, whereas an ancient, twisted blossoming tree branch is emblematic of strength, endurance and the vitality of old age. Plum blossoms are often seen in combination with pine and bamboo (“shochikubai”), and this combination signifies lasting happiness and longevity.

In ginbari, a copper or brass body is generally covered with a thin sheet of silver foil which frequently has a stippled or other repetitive design embossed upon it. The foil is then covered with transparent or translucent enamel, so that the reflective quality of the foil enhances the color and gives the piece a shimmering effect. The background portion of the piece has some similarity to basse-taille in that light traverses the transparent enamel layer to shine from the hollows and ridges of the design. The foreground in gin-bari is like standard cloisonné in that it is made of wired cells filled with colored enamels, either transparent, semi-transparent or opaque. Akasuke is a type of ginbari in which a brilliantly-polished copper body is punched, often in an overall stippled design, and a transparent red enamel (hence the name “pigeon blood”) is applied over the entire object. The combination of the transparent red enamel and bright copper base gives rise to a deep reflective look which is quite pleasing, resulting in a creation of the utmost delicacy and subtlety with a three-dimensional effect.

CONDITION is excellent; no damage. DIMENSIONS: 5” (12.7 cm) high, 4 ½” (11.5 cm) diameter.