This devotional panel by Bacchiacca, a leading artist at the court of the Medici in Florence, has the quintessential elements of Mannerism, an artistic style that originated in early 16th century Italy which valued artistic invention and elegance over the imitation of nature. Here, the proportions of the Virgin have been gracefully elongated and the colors of her clothes are especially vivid.

In the late 17th century, aristocratic European taste moved away from imported blue and white porcelains, and people were willing to pay more for the polychrome enamels exported to Jingdezhen.

Plique à jour, the cloisonné technique seen here, is made by the removal of the metal body with acid after firing so that the enamel and wires support themselves. Because the breakage rate was extremely high, many pieces were originally sold with small cracks.

Kawade Shibataro was the chief artist at the Ando Jubei company. A versatile man, he perfected the "moriage" technique in which enamel is built up in relief on the surface to give the decoration a sense of depth, as seen here.

Kawade Shibataro was the chief artist at the Ando Jubei company. A versatile man, he perfected the "moriage" technique in which enamel is built up in relief on the surface to give the decoration a sense of depth, as seen here.

The Hattori company was one of the companies that received commissions from the Imperial Household. The presence of a stylized chrysanthemum indicates that this vase was such a commission.