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Technique: Cloissoné
Massive Chinese Cloisonne Bulbous Vase
Located in San Diego, CA
A spectacular massive Chinese cloisonne vase, circa early 1900s. The vase has a bulbous baluster form with lobed sides decorated with foliage and flowers amongst a black geometric pa...
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Cloissoné Furniture
Materials
Brass, Enamel
19th Century Chinese Cloisonné Fu Dogs
Located in Houston, TX
An exceptional palatial quality pair of 19th century Chinese cloisonné Fu dogs featuring gold gilding over copper.
Chinese cloisonné o...
Category
1890s Chinese Chinese Export Antique Cloissoné Furniture
Materials
Copper, Enamel
$85,000 / set
A Fine Pair of Japanese Cloisonne Enamel Wisteria Vases. Meiji Era
Located in London, GB
A FINE PAIR OF JAPANESE CLOISONNE ENAMEL VASES.
Meiji Period (1868-1912).
Worked in silver wire of varying gauge with a continuous design depicting birds perched among leafy bra...
Category
19th Century Japanese Antique Cloissoné Furniture
Materials
Enamel
Antique Japanese Cloisonne Enamel Butterfly Plate
Located in Queens, NY
An antique Japanese Meiji period cloisonne enamel metal charger plate depicting butterfly images within floral designs. Features geometrical patterns to the border. The backside is adorned with a scrolling motif on a black ground with a central blue circle made in the cloisonne technique. Circa the early 20th century. Antique Japanese Plates...
Category
Early 20th Century Japanese Cloissoné Furniture
Materials
Enamel
Antique Miniature Japanese Cloisonne Enamel Celadon Color Vase with Butterflies
Located in Queens, NY
A miniature Japanese Meiji period vase, 1868 to 1912. The globular vase slightly tapering to the bottom decorated in polychrome enamels and copper wi...
Category
Late 19th Century Japanese Meiji Antique Cloissoné Furniture
Materials
Enamel, Copper
Japanese Meiji Period Cloisonne Enamel Vase by Ando Jubei
By Ando Jubei
Located in Newark, England
Free international shipping
Ando Cloisonne Company Mark
From our Japanese collection, we are delighted to introduce this Japanese Cloisonne Enamel Vase by Ando Jubei. The Cloisonn...
Category
Early 1900s Japanese Meiji Antique Cloissoné Furniture
Materials
Enamel, Wire
Antique Japanese Meiji Green Goldstone Enamel Dragon Vase
Located in Queens, NY
An antique Japanese late Meiji era enamel over brass vase. The amphora shaped vase with a narrow fluted neck. The vase is adorned with a polychrome image of a dragon made in the Cloi...
Category
Late 19th Century Japanese Meiji Antique Cloissoné Furniture
Materials
Enamel
Japanese Mid-Century Cloisonne Enamel Table Screen by Inaba
Located in Newark, England
SIGNED WITH THE INABA MARK
From our Japanese collection, we are pleased to offer this Japanese Cloisonne Enamel Table Screen by Inaba. The Cloisonne Enamel Table screen with four in...
Category
Mid-20th Century Japanese Mid-Century Modern Cloissoné Furniture
Materials
Brass, Enamel
Large Pair of Japanese Cloisonné Enamel Vases of Birds Flying Over Cherry Blosso
Located in Queens, NY
A pair of large antique Japanese Meiji Era enamel over brass vases attributed to Hayashi Kodenji, Japanese, 1831 to 1915. Circa: 1900s. Unsigned. The baluster form vase is enameled with polychrome images of gold sparrows in blossoming flowers made in the Cloisonne technique. Hayashi Kodenji was a pivotal figure in the history of Cloisonne enamel manufacturer. He was instrumental in the formation and leadership of the Shippo cho enamellers guild, and it is probable that he worked for the Nagoya-based Shippo Kaisha. He exhibited and won prizes at many international exhibitions: Nuremberg 1885 Silver, Paris 1889...
Category
Late 19th Century Japanese Meiji Antique Cloissoné Furniture
Materials
Enamel, Brass
Antique Pair Of Japanese Cloisonne Enamel Vases With Hawks, Cranes, Scenes
Located in Queens, NY
A pair of antique Japanese Meiji period facet cloisonne vases, featuring captivating bird motifs. Their substantial size and ribbed design make them standout pieces. Adorned with int...
Category
Early 20th Century Japanese Meiji Cloissoné Furniture
Materials
Enamel
Antique Large Meiji Japanese Cloisonne Enamel Hawk Floral Vase
Located in Queens, NY
An antique Japanese Meiji period cloisonne vase with an eagle. Circa early 20th century, 1900s. The vase is decorated with an autumn landscape with white chrysanthemums and an image ...
Category
Early 20th Century Japanese Meiji Cloissoné Furniture
Materials
Enamel
19th Century Chinese Cloisonné Vase with Dragon chasing pearl, Qing Period
Located in Lincoln, Lincolnshire
This is a very decorative small cloisonné vase, made in China and dating to the second half of the 19th Century, Qing period.
The vase has a g...
Category
19th Century Chinese Qing Antique Cloissoné Furniture
Materials
Ceramic
Antique Imperial Russian Silver Cloisonne Enamel Coin Purse Case Moscow 1899
Located in Portland, OR
A fine antique Pre-Revolution Russian Imperial silver-gilt & cloisonné enamel coin purse/case, Moscow, 1899.
The purse with the maker's mark in Cyrillic and the assayer's mark for Iv...
Category
Late 19th Century Russian Late Victorian Antique Cloissoné Furniture
Materials
Silver, Enamel
Antique High Quality Meiji Japanese Cloisonne Enamel Plate With Owl Cranes Fan
Located in Queens, NY
An antique Japanese Meiji era enamel over brass charger plate. The plate is superbly enameled with polychrome patterns, including three fans showing flowers and birds, the background...
Category
Late 19th Century Japanese Meiji Antique Cloissoné Furniture
Materials
Enamel, Brass
Antique Japanese Meiji Period Cloisonne Enamel Vase
Located in Queens, NY
An antique Japanese Meiji period cloisonne enamel vase. Baluster shaped vase richly adorned with multicolor floral motifs within swirl and scale like patterns. Decorated with a few m...
Category
Late 19th Century Japanese Meiji Antique Cloissoné Furniture
Materials
Enamel
Japanese Meiji Era Cloisonne Enamel Napking Ring
Located in Queens, NY
An antique Japanese Meiji Era copper and enamel napkin ring. circa: late 19th century to early 20th century. The ware is enameled with polychrome floral, and foliage patterns made in...
Category
Early 20th Century Japanese Cloissoné Furniture
Materials
Copper, Enamel
Japanese Meiji Dragon & Floral Pattern Cloisonne Koro & Cover
Located in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
A stylish antique Meiji period Japanese cloisonne Koro and cover decorated with dragon and floral designs and dating from around 1880. This delightful Koro stands raised on three bra...
Category
1870s Japanese Meiji Antique Cloissoné Furniture
Materials
Brass, Enamel
Asian Bronze Champlevé Dragon Cloisonné Lamp
Located in New York, NY
Bronze champlevé lamp with stylized dragon enameled cloisonné design surrounding and gorgeous patina. Mounted on hand-carved lacquered wood base, China,...
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinoiserie Cloissoné Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Large Japanese Meiji Period Cloisonné Enamel Vase with a Stand
Located in London, GB
Large Japanese Meiji period cloisonné enamel vase with a stand
Japanese, Late 19th Century
Vase: Height 155cm, diameter 70cm
Base: Height 45cm, width 51cm, depth 51cm
Total: Height 2...
Category
Late 19th Century Japanese Meiji Antique Cloissoné Furniture
Materials
Metal, Enamel
Antique Imperial Russian Silver Gilt Cloisonne Kovsh Nikolay Strulev Moscow 1908
Located in Portland, OR
A fine antique Imperial Russian silver-gilt & cloisonne kovsh, Nikolay Strulev, Moscow, circa 1908.
The kovsh with all over floral cloisonne enamel decoration to the bowl and the top...
Category
Early 1900s Russian Art Nouveau Antique Cloissoné Furniture
Materials
Silver, Enamel
Japanese Large Cloisonné Vase, Ca. 1900/1910
Located in New York, NY
Japanese Large Cloisonné Vase in Midnight Blue w/ Flowers and Birds, Ca. 1900/1910
DIMENSIONS:
Height: 46 inches
Diameter: 51.5 inches
ABOUT
This exquisite vase is a remarkable te...
Category
Early 1900s Japanese Japonisme Antique Cloissoné Furniture
Materials
Metal
Pair of Antique Chinese Champlevé or Cloisonné Lamps
Located in Houston, TX
Pair of antique Chinese champlevé or cloisonné lamps.
Lovely pair of antique Chinese bronze champlevé or cloisonné table lamps. Offered champleve or cloisonne lamps are executed in a lovely floral pattern of beautiful shades including chartreuse, turquoise, pinks and whites. These lamps are in very good antique condition and have been newly wired to U.S. specifications.
Champlevé is an enameling technique in the decorative arts, where troughs or cells are carved, etched, or cast into the surface of a metal object...
Category
1920s Chinese Chinese Export Vintage Cloissoné Furniture
Materials
Bronze, Enamel
Large Pair of Japanese Cloisonné with Blue Birds signed Gonda Hirosuke
Located in Queens, NY
A set of two vases with magnificent flowers and birds decoration, classic form for Japanese works of the Meiji era. The baluster form vases are enameled with polychrome images of blossoming flowers and plants made in the Cloisonne technique on a glossy cobalt blue ground. The base is marked with the mark of Gonda Hirosuke...
Category
Early 20th Century Japanese Meiji Cloissoné Furniture
Materials
Enamel
Rare Antique Meiji Japanese Cloisonne Enamel Charger With Figures 12 Inches
Located in Queens, NY
An antique Japanese copper serving plate with polychrome cloisonne enamel design. Meiji period, ca. 1880s. Round footed piece. Turquoise blue ground color. The plate depicts a samura...
Category
Late 19th Century Japanese Meiji Antique Cloissoné Furniture
Materials
Enamel, Copper
Antique Japanese Meiji Ginbari Cloisonne Enamel Vase
Located in Queens, NY
An antique Japanese, late Meiji era, Ginbari enamel over copper vase. The globular shaped vase is enameled with a polychrome image of blossoming Bluebells flowers on the light blue g...
Category
Late 19th Century Japanese Meiji Antique Cloissoné Furniture
Materials
Copper, Enamel
Antique 19th c Woodblock Print by Sino Japan War Naval Battle Haiyang Island
Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland
A very strong woodblock print
- Fantastic depiction of the naval Battle of Haiyang Island during the Sino-Japanese War. An explosion rocks a Chinese ship at right, severing the mast...
Category
19th Century Chinese Meiji Antique Cloissoné Furniture
Materials
Bronze
$1,279 Sale Price
20% Off
A Fine Japanese Cloisonne Enamel Koro. Meiji period
Located in London, GB
Japanese Silver Wire Cloisonné Koro with a Bird , butterflies and Floral Design
Meiji Period (1868-1912)
A beautifully executed Meiji-period Japanese cloisonné koro, featuring a...
Category
19th Century Japanese Antique Cloissoné Furniture
Materials
Enamel
A Fine Unusual Antique Japanese Cloisonne Enamel Kogo Box and Cover By Inaba
Located in London, GB
A Fine Unusual Antique Japanese Cloisonne Enamel Kogo Box and Cover signed by Inaba
Meiji Period.
Worked in gold wire and decorated all over with swirls and flowers on dark blue...
Category
19th Century Japanese Antique Cloissoné Furniture
Materials
Enamel
A Chinese Cloisonne Tray with Qianlong Mark, Early 20th Century
Located in ARMADALE, VIC
A Chinese Cloisonne Tray with Qianlong Mark, Early 20th Century
Home decor, Interior design and collectibles.
Provenance: Private Victoria Collection.
...
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Cloissoné Furniture
Materials
Bronze
$460 Sale Price
50% Off
Antique Meiji Period Japanese Cloisonne Enamel Vase with Geometric Patterns Gard
Located in Queens, NY
An antique Japanese Meiji period cloisonne vase featuring intricate foliage motifs complemented by two exquisite floral panels. The meticulous craftsmanship in depicting foliage patt...
Category
Late 19th Century Japanese Meiji Antique Cloissoné Furniture
Materials
Enamel
Pair of Japanese Cloisonne Silver Wire Meiji Golden Age Wisteria Vases
Located in Queens, NY
A matched pair of antique Japanese vases of elongated shape with long flared necks. Meiji period, 1868-1913. The pieces are decorated wi...
Category
Late 19th Century Japanese Meiji Antique Cloissoné Furniture
Materials
Enamel, Silver
Vintage Tall Chinese Cloisonné Enamel Vase Fighting Dragons Flaming Pearl
Located in Hyattsville, MD
Magnificent hand-crafted Chinese Cloisonné vase, very tall with facing Dragons, from a time capsule estate in Washington D.C. 14 1/2 Inches tall and so highly detailed it is sure to...
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Cloissoné Furniture
Materials
Copper
$556 Sale Price
20% Off
Massive Cloissone Vase of Pastel Crysanthemums
Located in Riverdale, NY
Massive Cloissone Vase of Crysanthemums from the 1950's China. Large in scale with finely hand detailed blooms of pastel crysanthemums, gradient green foliage with a bird in flight a...
Category
1950s Chinese Chinoiserie Vintage Cloissoné Furniture
Materials
Copper, Enamel
Antique Japanese Cloisonné Meiji Enamel Box with Roosters
Located in Queens, NY
An antique Japanese Meiji era covered enamel over brass trinket or jewelry box. Circa: late 19th century to early 20th century. The ware is enameled with a polychrome image of a roos...
Category
Early 20th Century Japanese Meiji Cloissoné Furniture
Materials
Brass, Enamel
$750 Sale Price
50% Off
Antique Japanese Cloisonne Meiji Bird Tree Enamel Vases
Located in Queens, NY
Large Pair of Antique Meiji Japanese Cloisonne Enamel Vases Hawks on Cherry Blossom Tree
Silver wire High Quality attributed to Hayashi or Ota
A pair of antique Japanese Meiji peri...
Category
Late 19th Century Japanese Antique Cloissoné Furniture
Materials
Enamel
A Fine Japanese Meiji Cloisonné Vase with Butterfly and Floral Panels
Located in London, GB
A Fine Japanese Cloisonné Vase with Butterfly and Floral Panels
Japan, Meiji Period (c. 1880–1900)
A Fine Japanese cloisonné enamel vase of an elegant lobed baluster shape with a w...
Category
19th Century Japanese Antique Cloissoné Furniture
Materials
Enamel
Chinese Export Six Panel Cloisonné Soapstone Coromandel Screen
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Charming Chinese export six-panel lacquer coromandel screen featuring a blue and white cloisonné style border decorated with scholars objects,...
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Cloissoné Furniture
Materials
Soapstone, Brass
Rare Antique Japanese Cloisonne Enamel Charger Plate With Figures 12 Inch
Located in Queens, NY
An antique Japanese enamel over copper charger plate, Meiji era, 1880s. The plate is adorned with a polychrome image of three male figures with a large leaf on a turquoise ground mad...
Category
Late 19th Century Japanese Meiji Antique Cloissoné Furniture
Materials
Copper, Enamel
Pair Of Japanese Cloisonne Plates Flowers On Turquoise Background Meiji Period
Located in Milano, MI
Pair Of Japanese Cloisonne Dishes Meiji Period 1868-1912 with turquoise bottom, in good condition. On the perimeter, a circular border of 1.7 cm dark background composed of geometri...
Category
Late 19th Century Japanese Meiji Antique Cloissoné Furniture
Materials
Bronze, Enamel
Mid-20th Century Chinese Cloisonne Vase
Located in Pomona, CA
This Chinese Antique Cloisonne Vase was hand made from gold copper with cloisonne. It has detailed cloisonne works of Peony, Magpie and floral a...
Category
Mid-20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Cloissoné Furniture
Materials
Metal, Copper
$1,750 Sale Price
30% Off
Pair Of Antique Early Meiji Japanese Cloisonne Enamel Covered Jars
Located in Queens, NY
A pair of antique Japanese Meiji era cloisonne enamel lidded vases. The vases have a similar shape: a rounded body with a slightly tapered base and a domed lid. Each lid has a bronze...
Category
19th Century Japanese Meiji Antique Cloissoné Furniture
Materials
Enamel
Signed Ando Jubei Japanese Cloisonné Vase Imperial Yellow with Roses
By Ando Jubei
Located in Somis, CA
A very rare Ando Jubei (1876-1956) Rose vase on imperial yellow background in excellent condition. In classic form using colored enamels of burgundy, cream, pink and green to depict ...
Category
20th Century Japanese Cloissoné Furniture
Materials
Metal, Enamel
Large Antique Meiji Japanese Cloisonne Enamel Floral Vase
Located in Queens, NY
An antique Japanese Meiji era cloisonne enamel vase. The vases has a baluster shaped body. Features blue medallions adorned with enameled floral and bird motifs. Medallions are on a ...
Category
Late 19th Century Japanese Meiji Antique Cloissoné Furniture
Materials
Enamel
Sarreguemines Majolica Jardiniere in the Japonisme Style, 1880-1890
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
A gorgeous turquoise blue Majolica jardiniere made by the French manufactory Sarreguemines circa 1880-1890. The jardiniere is decorated in the eclectic Japonisme-style with beautifully hand-painted birds among pine branches, faux cloisonne...
Category
Late 19th Century French Japonisme Antique Cloissoné Furniture
Materials
Faience, Majolica, Pottery
Antique Japanese Cloisonne Totai Covered Enamel Porcelain Jar
Located in Queens, NY
A Japanese covered Totai enamel on porcelain ginger jar. The ware is enameled with polychrome medallions representing blossoming flowers surrounded by floral, foliage and geometrical...
Category
19th Century Japanese Antique Cloissoné Furniture
Materials
Enamel
Large Japanese Dragon Design Cloisonne Enamel Plate
Located in Queens, NY
A large Japanese enamel plate charger. The plate is enameled with a polychrome design representing a pair of dragons surrounded by fire and cloud...
Category
Early 20th Century Japanese Meiji Cloissoné Furniture
Materials
Enamel
Large Pair Of Japanese Cloisonne Enamel Vases Garden And Birds
Located in Queens, NY
A pair of Japanese enamel over copper vases. Each vase has a cylindrical shaped body. Each vase is enameled with a polychrome design representing birds in blossoming flowers made in ...
Category
Early 20th Century Japanese Cloissoné Furniture
Materials
Enamel, Copper
Meiji Japanese Totai Cloisonne Enamel Ceramic Jar
Located in Queens, NY
An antique Japanese late Meiji era covered Totai enamel on ceramic ginger jar. Circa: late 19th century to early 20th century. The ware is enameled with a polychrome fan shaped medallions with blossoming flowers, bamboo trees, grapes, surrounded by a geometrical pattern made in the Cloisonne technique. The cover of the ware is decorated with polychrome fan shaped medallions with blossoming flowers. The neck and the lid are adorned with polychrome geometrical, and swirl motifs made in the same technique. Signed with red ink hieroglyphs, on the bottom. Totai Shippo...
Category
Late 19th Century Japanese Meiji Antique Cloissoné Furniture
Materials
Enamel
Chinese Cloisonne Incense Tool Vase, Qing Dynasty, 18th/19th Century, China
Located in Austin, TX
A small and elegant Chinese cloisonné vase for incense tools, Qing Dynasty, 18th/19th century, China.
Made for the scholar's studio, this small refined vase, was used to hold incense tools, including a small pair of tongs or chopsticks and spoon. The tools no longer present.
Of miniature baluster vase form, the vase beautify proportioned and decorated in the cloisonné enamel technique, with gilt wires forming the cloisons, or partitions. Within the cloisons, colorful enamels have been expertly laid.
The small incense tool vase...
Category
Early 1800s Chinese Qing Antique Cloissoné Furniture
Materials
Copper, Enamel
Early 20th Century Chinese Folding Screen/Room Divider with Cloisonne panels
Located in Pomona, CA
This is a set of 6 panels of Chinese vintage lacquered wooden screen which to be used as the room section panels in ancient China that are put ...
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Cloissoné Furniture
Materials
Hardwood
$18,200 Sale Price / set
30% Off
20th Century Antique Chinese Cloisonne Vase
Located in Pomona, CA
This magnificent Chinese Antique Cloisonne vase was hand made from gold copper with cloisonne. It has detailed cloisonne works of Crane, Pine...
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Cloissoné Furniture
Materials
Copper
$17,500 Sale Price
30% Off
Antique Imperial Russian Silver Gilt Cloisonne Enamel Sugar tongs Moscow 1890
Located in Portland, OR
Antique pair of Imperial Russian silver-gilt cloisonne sugar tongs, Moscow, circa 1890.
A very attractive pair of Russian silver and enamel sugar tongs, elegantly decorated with mult...
Category
1890s Russian Belle Époque Antique Cloissoné Furniture
Materials
Silver, Enamel
Japanese Meiji Period Cloisonne Enamel Sake Pot
Located in Newark, England
Fine Japanese Meiji period cloisonne enamel Sake pot. The Sake pot of rounded form with with clean edges profusely decorated with blossoming flowers throughout upon a black ground ba...
Category
Late 19th Century Japanese Meiji Antique Cloissoné Furniture
Materials
Metal, Enamel
Pair Of Antique Meiji Japanese Cloisonne Enamel Vases Cranes In Flight
Located in Queens, NY
A pair of antique Japanese Meiji period cloisonne vases. Each adorned with image of cranes and resplendent multicolor floral motifs within intricate foliate patterns, all skillfully ...
Category
Late 19th Century Japanese Meiji Antique Cloissoné Furniture
Materials
Enamel
Antique Japanese Cloisonne Enamel Wireless Vase
Located in Queens, NY
A high quality antique Japanese, late Meiji Era, copper and wireless enamel vase. A sphere shaped body is covered with a polychrome image of blossoming flowers made in the Cloisonne ...
Category
Early 20th Century Japanese Meiji Cloissoné Furniture
Materials
Enamel, Copper
A Magnificent Cloisonné Enamel Vase decorated with pigeons. Meiji period
Located in London, GB
A Magnificent Cloisonné Enamel Vase decorated with pigeons.
Meiji period (late 19th century)
Of a tapered spill shape decorated in silver and gold wire and various coloured clo...
Category
19th Century Japanese Antique Cloissoné Furniture
Materials
Enamel
Chinese Cloisonne Box with Carved Jade Inset Medallion
Located in Stamford, CT
Circa 1900 Chinese box decorated with green, blue, red and yellow floral design set against a white background. The top with a carved white jade floral medallion. The apple green ena...
Category
Early 19th Century Chinese Qing Antique Cloissoné Furniture
Materials
Jade, Brass
Pair Of Japanese Cloisonne Enamel Trumpet Vases Dragons Attributed To Honda
Located in Queens, NY
A antique pair of Japanese cloisonne enamel Meiji period vases. Each vase has a trumpet shaped body, a wide fluted neck, and a fluted base. The vases are adorned with polychrome enam...
Category
Late 19th Century Japanese Meiji Antique Cloissoné Furniture
Materials
Enamel
Large Chinese Enamel Bronze Cloisonne Charger
Located in Norwood, NJ
Large Chinese enamel bronze cloisonne charger. Unusual and rare bronze Chinese Cloisonne charger. The brightly multicolored enamel decoration feature...
Category
Late 20th Century Chinese Cloissoné Furniture
Materials
Bronze, Enamel
$1,406 Sale Price
25% Off
Antique Early Meiji Japanese Cloisonne Vase in the Style of Namikawa
Located in Queens, NY
An antique Japanese early Meiji period cloisonne vase, attributed to the master artisan Namikawa Yasuyuki. Fashioned in a ball-shaped design, this vase is adorned with intricate flor...
Category
Late 19th Century Japanese Meiji Antique Cloissoné Furniture
Materials
Enamel
Cloisonné Vases, Lamps, Bowls and Other Furniture and Objects for Sale on 1stDibs
Liven your home with cloisonné vases, bowls, lamps and other objects and furnishings ornamented with lustrous enamel. Technically, enamel is colored glass fused to metal. But that simple description greatly understates the case. Applied using an array of techniques to a wide range of objects, it is one of the most dynamic, and alluring, mediums in the world.
No one knows for sure when or where enameling originated. But, according to the Encyclopedia Britannica, it is widely believed that the decoration on a gold scepter found in a royal Mycenaean tomb at Kourion Kaloriziki, in Cyprus, and dating to the 11th century BC, is a true, early example of the technique.
Between the 6th and 12th centuries AD, cloisonné — in which tiny compartments (cloisons) made by soldering copper filaments to a metal surface are filled with vibrantly hued enamel — had a huge vogue in the Byzantine Empire. By the 7th century, Lombard craftsmen in northern Italy were using enamel to emulate Byzantine objects. In the 12th and 13th centuries, artisans in China imported the technique and made it so much their own that enameled objects have long been associated with Eastern aesthetics and motifs rather than Western ones.
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.
Elaborately decorated Ming-era cloisonné objects and furnishings — vessels and other items featuring lots of vibrant colors and details — are likely to fetch considerable sums at auction, as Chinese cloisonné vases created during the Ming and Qing eras represent a golden age of the country’s furniture design. (Victorian cloisonné is also popular with design enthusiasts.)
Cloisonné wasn’t adopted in Japan until the 1800s. Back then, amid an era of societal and cultural shifts, a bolstered interest in art and design elevated Japanese craft traditions during the Meiji period. European styles like Japonisme appropriated Japanese design while craftsmen in places like Wales and England employed japanning, a varnishing technique that approximated the appearance of lacquer for the surfaces of furnishings.
Today, Meiji-era cloisonné vases or incense burners in good condition are of great interest to collectors of Asian art and furniture produced by the period’s Japanese cloisonné workshops.
Find cloisonné vases, lighting, decorative bowls and other objects for sale on 1stDibs.