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Technique: Cloissoné
Large Antique Meiji Japanese Cloisonne Enamel Green Vase Flowers and Birds
Located in Queens, NY
A large antique Japanese late Meiji period enamel over brass vase. The vase has an amphora shaped body and a wide neck. The ware is enameled with a polychrome image of birds in bloss...
Category
Late 19th Century Japanese Meiji Antique Cloissoné Furniture
Materials
Enamel, Brass
Antique Japanese Copper Flower Vase with Carps, 1980s
Located in Paris, FR
This is a flower vase made in Japan around 1980 in Showa era. It is designed with two carps in gold and silver.
This style made with copper...
Category
1980s Japanese Vintage Cloissoné Furniture
Materials
Copper
Antique Japanese Cloisonne Yellow Enamel with Flying Sparrows Plate
Located in Queens, NY
An antique Japanese late Meiji era decorative enamel over copper plate.
The interior of the plate is adorned with a polychrome image of sparrows on the yellow ground made in the Cloi...
Category
Late 19th Century Japanese Meiji Antique Cloissoné Furniture
Materials
Enamel
$1,500 Sale Price
50% Off
Antique Japanese Cloisonne Enamel Gold Stone Vase with Butterflies Attr Honda Yo
Located in Queens, NY
An antique Japanese copper vase with polychrome cloisonne enamel decor. Meiji period. Fish tail shape with pronounced base. Intricate butterfly motif and floral patterns. Gold stone ...
Category
Late 19th Century Japanese Meiji Antique Cloissoné Furniture
Materials
Copper, Enamel
Vintage Mirrored Pair of Chinese Cloisonné Rooster Sculptures
Located in San Diego, CA
A nice vintage mirrored pair of Chinese cloisonné rooster sculptures, circa early 20th century. The sculptures are in very good condition with no d...
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Cloissoné Furniture
Materials
Brass, Enamel
18 inch Large Antique Meiji Japanese Cloisonne Enamel Charger Naturalistic Crane
Located in Queens, NY
An extra large antique Japanese Meiji era enamel over brass charger plate. The plate is enameled with a polychrome image of naturalistic cranes in blossoming flowers and trees on blu...
Category
Late 19th Century Japanese Meiji Antique Cloissoné Furniture
Materials
Brass
Japanese Silver Wire Cloisonne Vase Lamp, Meiji Period, c 1900, Japan
Located in Austin, TX
A vibrant Japanese turquoise ground and silver wire cloisonne vase, now mounted as a lamp, Meiji Period, circa 1900, Japan.
The tall vase of elegant rouleau shape, with a straight neck and body, slightly tapered food, and everted mouth. Crafted in the cloisonne technique upon a copper ground, the silver wires stand out and shimmer against the bright turquoise enamel ground. An ebullient design of blossoming peony (botanical) and morning glory (asago) graces the body of the vase. The large and heavy blooms of white peony especially striking and contrasting nicely with the more delicate and almost shy pastel morning glory blossoms hiding behind the large leaves.
The cloisonne enamels especially well done within the silver cloisons, with the leaves and flowers displaying masterful shading. The foot decorated with a geometric and floral border.
The vase drilled and wired and now mounted as a lamp. Set upon two wood bases. The actual lamp of brass plate, set with a single socket and tall, adjustable harp.
The lamp is topped by an antique 19th century Chinese Qing Dynasty tumble polished natural rock crystal. The crystal finial originally served as a Chinese Mandarin hat finial...
Category
Early 1900s Japanese Meiji Antique Cloissoné Furniture
Materials
Rock Crystal, Silver, Brass, Copper
Russian Cloisonné Enamel and Silver Gilt Egg
Located in London, GB
Russian cloisonné enamel and silver gilt egg
Russian, 20th Century
Height 7cm, diameter 5cm
The complex technique of cloisonné enamelling is ...
Category
20th Century Russian Cloissoné Furniture
Materials
Silver, Enamel
Antique Japanese Cloisonne Enamel Charger Plate with a Phoenix Bird Attributed t
Located in Queens, NY
An antique, late Meiji era, Japanese enamel over copper plate or charger. The interior of the plate is adorned with a polychrome enamel medallion with a Phoenix bird on the black gro...
Category
Late 19th Century Japanese Meiji Antique Cloissoné Furniture
Materials
Copper, Enamel
Mirrored Pair of Chinese Cloisonne Lidded Bowls with Floral Motif
Located in San Diego, CA
A nice mirrored pair of Chinese cloisonne lidded bowls with floral motif, circa 1950s. The bowls are in very good condition with no dings or dents and measure 6.5"D x 3.5"H. #2606.
Category
Mid-20th Century Chinese Cloissoné Furniture
Materials
Brass, Enamel
$600 Sale Price / set
20% Off
Chinese Enamel and French Gilt Bronze Chinoiserie Jardinière
Located in London, GB
Chinese enamel and French gilt bronze Chinoiserie jardinière
The enamel Chinese and the gilt bronze French, 19th century
Measures: Height 40cm, width 53cm, depth 30cm.
This Chin...
Category
19th Century French Chinoiserie Antique Cloissoné Furniture
Materials
Ormolu, Bronze, Enamel
Antique Japanese Carved Hardwood Low Table with Cloisonne Dragon Top
Located in San Diego, CA
A stunning antique Japanese carved hardwood low table with cloisonne dragon top, circa early 1900s. The table is in very good vintage conditio...
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Cloissoné Furniture
Materials
Hardwood
Chinese Qing Cloisonne Enamel Crane Figurines 19Th C
Located in Queens, NY
A pair of large antique Chinese cloisonne enamel crane figurines with long necks and legs, Qing Dynasty, 19th century. The bodies of the cranes and their bases are decorated with fol...
Category
19th Century Chinese Antique Cloissoné Furniture
Materials
Enamel
$24,000 / set
Monumental Pair of Cloisonné Lided Urn Bowls
Located in Miami, FL
A pair of monumental lidded bowls. 20” in diameter, 12” tall with the lid on, 18” once on the wood base. Decorated with flowers and birds on a black background.
Category
Mid-20th Century Chinese Cloissoné Furniture
Materials
Brass
$4,800 / set
Russian Cloisonné Enamel Tea Set
Located in New Orleans, LA
This exceptional Russian cloisonné and enamel tea set is the work of Pavel Akimovich Ovchinnikov. One of Russia’s most skilled enamel artisans, Ovchin...
Category
19th Century Russian Japonisme Antique Cloissoné Furniture
Materials
Silver, Enamel
ANTIQUE JAPANESE CLOISONNÉ-ENAMEL ROUNDED DEEP KOBAKO KOGO BOX AND COVER. 19th C
Located in London, GB
A fine Japanese cloisonne enamel kobako box decorated with colorful roundels and chrysanthemums amidst spiral shaped wire ground. Lid with a a lion and foliage on the black backgro...
Category
19th Century Japanese Antique Cloissoné Furniture
Materials
Enamel
Antique Pair Early Meiji Japanese Cloisonne Enamel Bird and Garden Vases Attribu
Located in Queens, NY
Antique Pair Early Meiji Japanese Cloisonne Enamel Bird and Garden Vases Attributed to Honda
The exteriors of the wares are adorned with polychro...
Category
19th Century Japanese Meiji Antique Cloissoné Furniture
Materials
Enamel
$4,750 Sale Price / set
50% Off
Chinese Cloisonne Enamel Brass Vase W Snowflakes
Located in Queens, NY
A Chinese brass vase, decorated with an enamel snowflake pattern in cloisonne technique. The vase has a classic, round body, widening towards the bottom, and tapers to a narrow neck....
Category
19th Century Chinese Antique Cloissoné Furniture
Materials
Enamel, Brass
Chinese Cloisonne Enameled Vase with Garden Scene & Butterfly, Signed, 20thC
Located in Big Flats, NY
Chinese Cloisonne Enameled Vase with Garden Scene & Butterfly, Signed, 20thC; "Kuo's China Cloisson" .
Measures- 10.25"H x 4.5"W x 4.5"D.
.
A beautifully crafted Chinese cloison...
Category
20th Century Cloissoné Furniture
Materials
Metal
$440 Sale Price
20% Off
A Pair of Japanese Cloisonne Enamel Vases Depicting Pigeons on a Cherry Blossom
Located in Queens, NY
A Pair of Japanese Cloisonne Enamel Vases Depicting Pigeons on a Cherry Blossom Tree
Attributed to Shippo Kasha/ Namikawa Sōsuke
Based of the Drawing By Watanabe Seitei Seitei Kacho ...
Category
19th Century Japanese Meiji Antique Cloissoné Furniture
Materials
Enamel
Antique Japanese Meiji Cloisonne Enamel Brush Pot
Located in Queens, NY
An antique Japanese Meiji Era cylindrical shaped enamel over brass brush pot. Circa: 19th century. The cylindrical form pot is enameled with polychrome medallions with butterflies in...
Category
19th Century Japanese Meiji Antique Cloissoné Furniture
Materials
Enamel, Brass
High Quality Antique Japanese Cloisonne Enamel Vase with Blossoming Iris Flowers
Located in Queens, NY
An antique Japanese, late Meiji period, enamel over gilt copper vase. with silver wire
The unusual shaped vase has a long fluted neck. The ware is enameled with a polychrome image o...
Category
Late 19th Century Japanese Meiji Antique Cloissoné Furniture
Materials
Copper, Enamel
Antique Greek Civil War Pure Silver Cloisonne Case Engraved Athens Army Day 1946
Located in Portland, OR
An antique Greek pure silver & cloisonne case, circa 1910.
Despite this case dating circa 1910 it has a later engraved legend to the base "Greek Army Day Athens, 15th May 1946", from...
Category
1910s Greek Edwardian Vintage Cloissoné Furniture
Materials
Silver, Enamel
Antique Asian Chinese Opium Box in Cloisonné Enamel, Snuff Box Floral Motif
Located in Leuven , BE
Antique Chinese Opium Box in Cloisonné Enamel, decorated with Floral Motifs and Interior Scenes
French Private Collection
Category
19th Century Chinese Antique Cloissoné Furniture
Materials
Metal
Antique Chinese Qing Dynasty Bronze Cloisonne Enamel Censer Insence Burner 1900
Located in Portland, OR
A good, large, antique Chinese Qing dynasty bronze and cloisonne censer, circa 1900.
The lidded censer having a Chinese lion (Shi) to the lid, the...
Category
Early 1900s Chinese Qing Antique Cloissoné Furniture
Materials
Bronze, Enamel
$1,000 Sale Price
20% Off
Chinese Hardstone and Cloisonné Enamel Flower Tree Model
Located in London, GB
Chinese hardstone and cloisonné enamel flower tree model
Chinese, 20th Century
Height 54cm, width 42cm, depth 39cm
Depicting a basket filled with a lavi...
Category
20th Century Chinese Cloissoné Furniture
Materials
Stone, Carnelian, Jade, Enamel
Japanese Covered Grape Plique a Jour Enamel Kogo
Located in Queens, NY
A Japanese covered silvered and enamel kogo or box for incense. The box is enameled with polychrome images of grape vines with berries made in the Plique a Jour technique on burgundy...
Category
Early 20th Century Japanese Cloissoné Furniture
Materials
Enamel
Large Antique Japanese Cloisonne Enamel Vase Attributed to Kyoto Shibata
Located in Queens, NY
A large antique Japanese Meiji period vase attributed to Kyoto Shibata. Features vivid depictions of birds and floral motifs, showcasing the meticulous application of cloisonne ename...
Category
Late 19th Century Japanese Meiji Antique Cloissoné Furniture
Materials
Enamel, Brass
Pair Qing 19th Century Chinese Cloissone Vases, Vibrant Colored Enamels
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A tall vibrant pair of cloissone vases of the Qing period, the last imperial dynasty from 1644 to 1912. Crafted with the fine metalwork they were known for and featuring lush botanic...
Category
1840s Chinese Qing Antique Cloissoné Furniture
Materials
Gold, Copper, Enamel
Japanese Meiji Era Cloisonne Enamel Napkin Rings
Located in Queens, NY
An antique Japanese Meiji Era copper and enamel napkin ring. Circa: early 20th century. The ware is enameled with polychrome images of Phoenix birds surrounded by foliage, and scroll...
Category
Early 20th Century Japanese Cloissoné Furniture
Materials
Copper, Enamel
Antique Meiji Silver Wire Japanese Cloisonne Vase with Eagle and Dragon over Wav
Located in Queens, NY
An antique Japanese Cloisonne Meiji Golden Age Period high quality silver wire
Attributed to Hattori
The vase is of an ovoid form tapering to the bottom and featuring a short everted...
Category
Late 19th Century Japanese Meiji Antique Cloissoné Furniture
Materials
Enamel
Chinese Cloisonné Charger or Large Plate fine detail, Mid-19th Century
Located in Lincoln, Lincolnshire
This is a very good Chinese Cloisonné Charger or Large Plate / Dish that we date to the mid-19th century of the Qing dynasty, Circa 1970.
The Charger is circular on a low foot.
The decoration shows a large central 12-lobed flower head with further flowers and leaves off it, leading to a three section pattern with three mythical phoenix, all in many different coloured enamels against a deep red ground. The outer rim has a detailed plantain leaf border decoration.
The reverse has an unmarked green base with three roundel designs on the rim, all against a blue ground.
Overall a very decorative 19th C Qing period Chinese Plate.
Category
Mid-19th Century Chinese Chinese Export Antique Cloissoné Furniture
Materials
Ceramic
Rare Japanese Closionne Enamel Vase with Wisteria and Fish Signed
Located in Queens, NY
A rare antique Japanese, late Meiji period, enamel over copper vase.
The vase has an amphora shaped body and a long fluted neck.
The ware is enameled with a polychrome image of blossoming Wisteria flowers and fish...
Category
Late 19th Century Japanese Meiji Antique Cloissoné Furniture
Materials
Copper, Enamel
Antique Early Meiji Japanese Cloisonne Enamel Vase
Located in Queens, NY
An antique Japanese, early Meiji era, enamel over gilt copper vase. The exterior of the ware is adorned with polychrome enamel panels representing blossoming flowers, plants and butt...
Category
19th Century Japanese Meiji Antique Cloissoné Furniture
Materials
Enamel
$750 Sale Price
50% Off
Meiji Japanese Cloisonne Enamel Medallions Design Vase
Located in Queens, NY
A Japanese footed enamel over copper vase. The urn shaped vase is enameled with polychrome medallions representing floral, foliage, foliate scroll, butterfly and Phoenix bird ornamen...
Category
Early 20th Century Japanese Cloissoné Furniture
Materials
Enamel, Copper
Large Pair Of Japanese Cloisonne Enamel Green Floral Cherry Blossom Vases
Located in Queens, NY
A pair of identical Japanese enamel over copper vases. Each vase has a globular shaped body and a wide neck with a fluted mouth. Each vase is enameled with a polychrome design repres...
Category
Early 20th Century Japanese Cloissoné Furniture
Materials
Copper, Enamel
Rare Meiji Japanese Cloisonne Red Enamel Green and White Dragon Jar
Located in Queens, NY
A rare antique Japanese late Meiji Era tripod and covered enamel copper censer koro. Circa: late 19th century to early 20th century. The sphere form censer koro is enameled with poly...
Category
Late 19th Century Japanese Meiji Antique Cloissoné Furniture
Materials
Enamel, Copper
Contemporary Hua Design Low Cloisonné Drumstool in Moss by Robert Kuo
By Robert Kuo
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Low Cloisonné Drumstool
Moss
Hua Design
Cloisonné
Enamel
Copper
Each piece is individually crafted and is unique.
The cloisonné technique is an enameling on metal technique that d...
Category
2010s Cloissoné Furniture
Materials
Copper, Enamel
Large Meiji Period Cloisonne Enamel Vase
Located in London, GB
Of ovoid form, with a narrow neck and outward flaring rim, on dark blue ground depicting wisteria blossoms in white and purple cascading from the shoulder with birds throughout and w...
Category
Late 19th Century Japanese Meiji Antique Cloissoné Furniture
Materials
Enamel
Antique Japanese Meiji Cloisonne Enamel Tripod Jar
Located in Queens, NY
An antique Japanese copper lidded jar with polychrome cloisonne enamel design. Late Meiji period, before 1912. Round shape, lid with globe finial. The piece rests on three feet. Red ...
Category
Late 19th Century Japanese Meiji Antique Cloissoné Furniture
Materials
Enamel, Copper
$2,100 Sale Price
30% Off
Antique Japanese Woodblock - Utagawa Toyokuni l - 1816 (Honjo, Edo Period 1780
Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland
Antique Japanese Woodblock - Utagawa Toyokuni l - 1816 (Honjo, Edo Period 1786-1865 Edo),
Diptych,
Actors Bandô Mitsugorô R) and Ichikawa Danjûrô (L)
日付: Japanese, Edo period
Pro...
Category
19th Century Chinese Meiji Antique Cloissoné Furniture
Materials
Bronze
$1,687 Sale Price
20% Off
Small Chinese Cloisonne and Hardstone Trinket Box, Republic Period, China
Located in Austin, TX
A lovely small Chinese export cloisonne trinket box with a carved hardstone roundel, Early Republic Period circa 1915, China.
The small cloisonne box set on four short bun feet, and...
Category
1910s Chinese Qing Vintage Cloissoné Furniture
Materials
Stone, Copper, Enamel
Large Rare Japanese Cloisonne Meiji Period Green Dragon Swimming Over The Sea
Located in Queens, NY
A high quality Japanese enamel vase, Meiji era, 1868 to 1912. The vase has an amphora shaped body and a narrow neck. The ware is enameled with a polychrome image of a big dragon over...
Category
Late 19th Century Japanese Meiji Antique Cloissoné Furniture
Materials
Enamel
Large Chinese Floral Cloisonne Enamel Vase W Stand
Located in Queens, NY
A large rare Chinese enamel over brass vase. The unusual shaped vase is adorned with polychrome images of flowers surrounded by floral and wavy motifs against a bright turquoise back...
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Meiji Cloissoné Furniture
Materials
Enamel, Brass
Large Rare Antique Japanese Cloisonne Enamel Plate
Located in Queens, NY
A large rare antique, Meiji era, Japanese enamel over copper plate or charger. The interior of the plate is made in a symmetrical design, adorned with polychrome enamel medallions fe...
Category
Late 18th Century Japanese Meiji Antique Cloissoné Furniture
Materials
Copper, Enamel
$2,250 Sale Price
50% Off
Harmony in Enamel and Silk: Pair of Cloisonne' Lamps with Silk Lampshades
Located in Austin, TX
These cloisonné lamps stand as a testament to timeless craftsmanship. Each lamp is a symphony of artistry, meticulously crafted by skilled hands.
The deep blue cloisonné base serves...
Category
20th Century Chinese Cloissoné Furniture
Materials
Metal
Gilt-Bronze, Onyx and Enamel Cloisonné Centerpiece, France, Late 19th Century
Located in Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires
Gilt-bronze, onyx and enamel cloisonné centerpiece. France, Late 19th century.
Category
Late 19th Century French Neoclassical Antique Cloissoné Furniture
Materials
Onyx, Bronze, Enamel
Antique 19th c Woodblock Print - Hiroshige - Yoshiwara: The Fifty-Three Stati
Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland
Yoshiwara: Mount Fuji on the Left (Yoshiwara, hidari Fuji), from the series Fifty-three Stations of the Tôkaidô Road (Tôkaidô gojûsan tsugi no uchi), also known as the First Tôkaidô ...
Category
19th Century Chinese Meiji Antique Cloissoné Furniture
Materials
Bronze
$519 Sale Price
20% Off
Antique Meiji Japanese Cloisonne Enamel Charger Plate Blossoming Flowers Butterf
Located in Queens, NY
An antique Japanese, late Meiji era, enamel over gilt copper charger plate. The plate is adorned with polychrome enamel figural medallions made in the shape of a fan, a heart, a flow...
Category
Late 19th Century Japanese Meiji Antique Cloissoné Furniture
Materials
Enamel, Copper
Two Russian Silver Gilt and Cloisonné Enamel Eggs on Stands
Located in London, GB
Two Russian silver gilt and cloisonné enamel eggs on stands
Russian, 20th Century
Height 12cm, diameter 4.5cm
These stunning Russian eggs are crafted from silver gilt and dec...
Category
20th Century Russian Cloissoné Furniture
Materials
Silver, Enamel
Two Chinese Cloisonné Enamel Eggs "Flowers and Animals" with Wood Stands #9
Located in Norton, MA
Presenting two beautiful Chinese cloisonné enamel eggs depicting flowers and animals with wood stands, early 20th century.
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Cloissoné Furniture
Materials
Copper
Small Japanese Meiji Period Cloisonne Round Box, circa 1910, Japan
Located in Austin, TX
A small and delightful Japanese yellow ground cloisonne round trinket or incense box, Meiji Period, circa 1910, Japan.
The small box of squat, round shape, and may originally have b...
Category
1910s Japanese Meiji Vintage Cloissoné Furniture
Materials
Copper, Enamel
Large Antique Meiji Japanese Cloisonne Green Goldstone Enamel White Dragon Vase
Located in Queens, NY
Large Antique Meiji Japanese Cloisonne Green Gold Stone Enamel White Dragon Vase
A large antique Japanese Meiji period cloisonne vase, featuring an im...
Category
Late 19th Century Japanese Meiji Antique Cloissoné Furniture
Materials
Enamel
Antique Chinese Cloisonné Enamel Round Lidded Box 19th Century CO#09
Located in Norton, MA
Antique Chinese cloisonné enamel round box with lid depicting floral patterns. A white base tone and colorful floral all around, from the 19th century.
Category
Late 19th Century Chinese Chinese Export Antique Cloissoné Furniture
Materials
Copper
Antique Japanese Cloisonne Enamel Vase Pair Hayashi School
Located in Newark, England
Meiji Period (1868-1912)
From our Japanese collection, we are delighted to offer this pair of Antique Japanese Cloisonne Enamel Vases by the Hayashi School in their Original Tomoba...
Category
Early 1900s Japanese Meiji Antique Cloissoné Furniture
Materials
Metal, Enamel, Metallic Thread
Antique Japanese Cloisonné Enamel Round Lidded Box 19th Century CO#07
Located in Norton, MA
Quality work, amazing workmanship with absolutely fine details bronze cloisonné enameled lidded box depicting lots of intricated patterns all around the...
Category
19th Century Japanese Antique Cloissoné Furniture
Materials
Copper, Bronze
High Quality Antique Meiji Japanese Cloisonne Enamel Koro Jar Gold Wire
Located in Queens, NY
An antique Japanese Meiji period lidded jar decorated with cloisonne enamel flowering shrub patterns.
The jar of rounded bulbous shape stands on a narrow round foot with a raised na...
Category
Late 19th Century Japanese Antique Cloissoné Furniture
Materials
Enamel
Large Chinese Hardstone Flower Tree Model in a Cloisonné Enamel Pot
Located in London, GB
Large Chinese hardstone flower tree model in a cloisonné enamel pot
Chinese, 20th Century
Height 44cm, width 35cm, depth 21cm
This impressive flower tree model, crafted from an ass...
Category
20th Century Chinese Cloissoné Furniture
Materials
Stone, Agate, Quartz, Metal, Enamel
Large Chinese Stone/Jade Pomegranate Tree in Cloisonné Planter
Located in New York, NY
wooden base seen in photos is included with this item; overall with wooden base (approximate measurements): 26in(H); approximate measurements without wooden base: 23in(H) x 11in(W) x...
Category
Mid-20th Century Chinese Cloissoné Furniture
Materials
Agate, Jade, Metal, Enamel
Pair of Chinese Red Cloisonné Zodiac Vases, with Stands
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Pair of Chinese red cloisonné zodiac vases, with stands, each one with gilt brass phoenix bird ring handles, with 'cracked ice' and floating animal medalli...
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Cloissoné Furniture
Materials
Brass, Enamel
$2,360 Sale Price / set
20% Off
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.