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Vase thumbnail 2
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Not currently on display at the V&A

Vase

ca. 1870-1880 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

The heavy porcelain body of this vase is decorated with cloisonné enamel. The abstract floral and geometric motifs on a blue enamel ground with small stylised cloud patterns are picked out in brass wire. The labels identify the dealers and previous collections to which the vase belonged.

The Nagoya-based cloisonné artist Tsukamoto Kaisuke (1828-1887) is generally credited with discovering how to apply cloisonné enamels to a ceramic vessel around 1868. However, this was a relatively short-lived innovation and was never very popular. This was probably because enamels on porcelain tended to look dull and dirty and were liable to crack. Nevertheless, some fine and durable examples were produced, like this piece.


Object details

Category
Object type
Materials and techniques
Porcelain, cloisonné enamel
Brief description
Cer, Japan, Nagoya, porcelain, cloisonne
Physical description
Porcelain bottle decorated with cloisonné enamels
Dimensions
  • Height: 17.2cm
Style
Object history
Transferred from the Museum of Practical Geology (Jermyn Street, London), accessioned in 1901. This acquisition information reflects that found in the Asia Department registers, as part of a 2022 provenance research project.
Summary
The heavy porcelain body of this vase is decorated with cloisonné enamel. The abstract floral and geometric motifs on a blue enamel ground with small stylised cloud patterns are picked out in brass wire. The labels identify the dealers and previous collections to which the vase belonged.

The Nagoya-based cloisonné artist Tsukamoto Kaisuke (1828-1887) is generally credited with discovering how to apply cloisonné enamels to a ceramic vessel around 1868. However, this was a relatively short-lived innovation and was never very popular. This was probably because enamels on porcelain tended to look dull and dirty and were liable to crack. Nevertheless, some fine and durable examples were produced, like this piece.
Collection
Accession number
4364-1901

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Record createdDecember 16, 2005
Record URL
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