Vase
1870-1880 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This small copper vase and its pair (Museum no. 360A-1880) are almost totally covered with wired cloisonné enamel decoration. In this technique, the design is formed from small metal (here brass wire) enclosures or ‘cloisons’ fixed to the body of the piece and filled with coloured enamels.
Here the transparent brown enamel ground almost disappears beneath stylised clouds, Japanese cranes, chrysanthemums and pine-boughs. The cranes and pines are both symbols of longevity. The rims and foot-rings of gilded copper are still visible.
The style of decoration and the enamelling technique are characteristic of the early work of the Kyoto-based cloisonné artist Namikawa Yasuyuki. Hayashi Tadamasa (1853-1906), a dealer and advisor on Japanese art, was the first to suggest a possible Kyoto origin when he visited the V&A in 1886 to assess the Museum's Japanese collections. These two small vases are stylistically very similar to another pair in the V&A (Museum nos 1274&A-1886).
Here the transparent brown enamel ground almost disappears beneath stylised clouds, Japanese cranes, chrysanthemums and pine-boughs. The cranes and pines are both symbols of longevity. The rims and foot-rings of gilded copper are still visible.
The style of decoration and the enamelling technique are characteristic of the early work of the Kyoto-based cloisonné artist Namikawa Yasuyuki. Hayashi Tadamasa (1853-1906), a dealer and advisor on Japanese art, was the first to suggest a possible Kyoto origin when he visited the V&A in 1886 to assess the Museum's Japanese collections. These two small vases are stylistically very similar to another pair in the V&A (Museum nos 1274&A-1886).
Object details
| Category | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Copper, brass and cloisonné enamel |
| Brief description | Vase, cloisonné enamel decoration, style of Namikawa Yasuyuki, Kyoto, c.1875. |
| Physical description | This small copper vase and its pair (Museum no. 360A-1880) are almost totally covered with wired cloisonné enamel decoration. In this technique, the design is formed from small metal (here brass wire) enclosures or ‘cloisons’ fixed to the body of the piece and filled with coloured enamels. Here the transparent brown enamel ground almost disappears beneath stylised clouds, Japanese cranes, chrysanthemums and pine-boughs. The cranes and pines are both symbols of longevity. The rims and foot-rings of gilded copper are still visible. The style of decoration and the enamelling technique are characteristic of the early work of the Kyoto-based cloisonné artist Namikawa Yasuyuki. Hayashi Tadamasa (1853-1906), a dealer and advisor on Japanese art, was the first to suggest a possible Kyoto origin when he visited the V&A in 1886 to assess the Museum's Japanese collections. These two small vases are stylistically very similar to another pair in the V&A (Museum nos 1274&A-1886). |
| Dimensions |
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| Style | |
| Object history | Purchased from Londos & Co., accessioned in 1880. This acquisition information reflects that found in the Asia Department registers, as part of a 2022 provenance research project. Purchased from Christopher Dresser’s company, Londos & Co. |
| Subject depicted | |
| Summary | This small copper vase and its pair (Museum no. 360A-1880) are almost totally covered with wired cloisonné enamel decoration. In this technique, the design is formed from small metal (here brass wire) enclosures or ‘cloisons’ fixed to the body of the piece and filled with coloured enamels. Here the transparent brown enamel ground almost disappears beneath stylised clouds, Japanese cranes, chrysanthemums and pine-boughs. The cranes and pines are both symbols of longevity. The rims and foot-rings of gilded copper are still visible. The style of decoration and the enamelling technique are characteristic of the early work of the Kyoto-based cloisonné artist Namikawa Yasuyuki. Hayashi Tadamasa (1853-1906), a dealer and advisor on Japanese art, was the first to suggest a possible Kyoto origin when he visited the V&A in 1886 to assess the Museum's Japanese collections. These two small vases are stylistically very similar to another pair in the V&A (Museum nos 1274&A-1886). |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | 360-1880 |
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| Record created | December 19, 2005 |
| Record URL |
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