Vase thumbnail 1
Vase thumbnail 2
+2
images
Not on display

Vase

1890-1910 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This tall vase is decorated with coloured cloisonné enamels and depicts a high-class Kyoto courtesan (Japanese: tayū) out walking with her attendant. She wears a luxuriously decorated kimono with the sash (obi) tied at the front and extremely high-platform koma-geta on her feet. Her hairstyle and hair-ornaments are extremely elaborate.

The mirror-black enamel ground of the vase is typical of the work of Namikawa Yasuyuki, the renowned Kyoto maker of cloisonné enamels; so too is the fine geometrical cloisonné decoration on the neck and foot of the vase. The vase has a silver plaque applied to the base which bears the two-character engraved inscription ‘Kyoto Shibata’ in precisely the same style as the plaques used by Namikawa Yasuyuki, who signed 'Kyoto Namikawa'. We know almost nothing of Shibata, not even his given name, but it has been suggested that he may have been in some way involved with Yasuyuki’s Kyoto workshop and possibly even working directly for him.

Object details

Category
Object type
Materials and techniques
Copper body with cloisonné enamel decoration
Brief description
Cloisonné enamel vase with a scene of a tayū (courtesan) with an attendant; signed Shibata of Kyoto
Physical description
Vase with cloisonné decoration of a tayū (courtesan) and attendant.
Dimensions
  • Height: 24.4cm
Style
Marks and inscriptions
Kyoto Shibata
Translation
Shibata of Kyoto
Credit line
Margary Gift
Summary
This tall vase is decorated with coloured cloisonné enamels and depicts a high-class Kyoto courtesan (Japanese: tayū) out walking with her attendant. She wears a luxuriously decorated kimono with the sash (obi) tied at the front and extremely high-platform koma-geta on her feet. Her hairstyle and hair-ornaments are extremely elaborate.

The mirror-black enamel ground of the vase is typical of the work of Namikawa Yasuyuki, the renowned Kyoto maker of cloisonné enamels; so too is the fine geometrical cloisonné decoration on the neck and foot of the vase. The vase has a silver plaque applied to the base which bears the two-character engraved inscription ‘Kyoto Shibata’ in precisely the same style as the plaques used by Namikawa Yasuyuki, who signed 'Kyoto Namikawa'. We know almost nothing of Shibata, not even his given name, but it has been suggested that he may have been in some way involved with Yasuyuki’s Kyoto workshop and possibly even working directly for him.
Collection
Accession number
M.68-1969

About this object record

Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.

You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.

Suggest feedback

Record createdFebruary 28, 2006
Record URL
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest