Not currently on display at the V&A

Vase

c.1900-10 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

The copper body has an applied silver rim, a silver-gilt inner neck-ring, a silver base plate and a graduated peach-coloured ground. The design is of a Japanese marsh plant of the type commonly known as Arrowhead (probably Sagittaria Aginashi), which is found in wet areas such as bogs, ponds and riverbanks. The distinctive triple spear-shaped leaves and small white flowers have been rendered in a combination of silver yusen, shosen and musen enamels. The shaded green leaves have an almost three-dimensional feeling to them, while the flowers are softly defined in shaded musen enamels. The twisting of the leaves adds to the naturalistic feeling of the design. The mark of the Ando Company in silver yusen and white enamel has been applied to the dark brown enamel interior of the vase.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Parts
This object consists of 3 parts.

  • Vase
  • Box
  • Stand
Materials and techniques
Cloisonné enamel vase with a combination of <i>shosen</i> (few wires technique), <i>musen</i> (no wires technique) and <i>yusen</i> (with wires technique) decoration.
Brief description
Cloisonné enamel vase decorated with flowering arrowhead plants, mark of the Ando Company, Nagoya, Japan, c.1900-10
Physical description
Cloisonné enamel vase decorated with flowering arrowhead plants,
Dimensions
  • Height: 24.4cm
  • Width: 11cm
Content description
Arrowhead, flowers
Marks and inscriptions
(Mark of the Ando Company.)
Credit line
Given by Edwin Davies
Summary
The copper body has an applied silver rim, a silver-gilt inner neck-ring, a silver base plate and a graduated peach-coloured ground. The design is of a Japanese marsh plant of the type commonly known as Arrowhead (probably Sagittaria Aginashi), which is found in wet areas such as bogs, ponds and riverbanks. The distinctive triple spear-shaped leaves and small white flowers have been rendered in a combination of silver yusen, shosen and musen enamels. The shaded green leaves have an almost three-dimensional feeling to them, while the flowers are softly defined in shaded musen enamels. The twisting of the leaves adds to the naturalistic feeling of the design. The mark of the Ando Company in silver yusen and white enamel has been applied to the dark brown enamel interior of the vase.
Bibliographic references
  • Japanese Cloisonne Irvine, Gregory. Japanese Cloisonné. (London:V&A Publications, 2006), p. 84
  • Japanese Cloisonne Enamels. Irvine, Gregory. Japanese Cloisonné Enamels. (London: V&A Publishing, 2011). pl. 44
Other number
ED 267 - Edwin Davies collection number
Collection
Accession number
FE.42:1 to 3-2011

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Record createdFebruary 16, 2011
Record URL
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