Object Notes

Namikawa Sosuke used a painting of birds by Watanabe Seitei (1851-1918) as inspiration for his work in wireless cloisonne. While Sosuke did not invent the technique of using enamel without the wire "cloisons" before firing, he did perfect it.

This jar was exhibited in Glasgow in 1911. The catalogue from that exhibition states that Hayashi Kodenji used fifty-one different colors of enamel to create the design and took almost six months to complete the piece.

Namikawa Yasuyuki was one of the outstanding masters of Meiji-period cloisonné. His artistry bought him many prizes in foreign and domestic expositions, as well as Imperial patronage.

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.