What is cloisonné worth?

What a cloisonné piece is worth will depend on what type of piece it is, its condition, rarity and more. 

Cloisonné (“cell” in French) is a technique in which thin wires of fine silver or gold are used to outline a design, which is then filled with enamel. The piece is subsequently placed in a kiln where the enamel is melted. Cloisonné is distinct because the individual wires remain visible, forming an outline of the motif. When it comes to jewelry design and other disciplines, cloisonné enamel was popular during the Byzantine Empire. 

Collectors of authentic antique Chinese furniture and decorative objects know that Ming dynasty-era cloisonné objects are particularly coveted. Although ornamentation was minimal at the time, Ming dynasty furniture often featured carved or painted details of flowers, insects, dragons, fruits and other motifs. 

As overseas trade expanded, techniques from the West, like cloisonné enamel painting, adorned table screens and other pieces. With respect to Ming-era cloisonné objects and furnishings, an elaborately decorated item featuring lots of vibrant colors and details is likely to be more valuable at auction than its minimally adorned counterpart (the same goes for Victorian cloisonné objects). Chinese cloisonné vases created during the Ming and Qing eras represent a golden age of Chinese furniture design. 

Chinese cloisonné objects were frequently imported to Japan, where the technique wasn’t adopted until the 1800s. Although it was a time of societal and cultural shifts, a bolstered interest in art and design elevated Japanese craft traditions during the Meiji era, and today, Meiji-era cloisonné vases or incense burners in good condition are of great interest to collectors. 

Find antique and vintage cloisonné objects on 1stDibs.