Meiji Japanese Cloisonne Enamel Vase With Quail, Insects, Fruit, and Flowers

Details

Description

This finely worked Japanese cloisonné enamel vase stands approximately 12 inches high and is executed on a rich turquoise blue … Read more This finely worked Japanese cloisonné enamel vase stands approximately 12 inches high and is executed on a rich turquoise blue ground that provides a vivid backdrop for the exceptionally detailed decoration. Encircling the upper section is a continuous frieze of insects and fruit, rendered with remarkable naturalism and technical finesse. Dragonflies, beetles, moths, and cicada-like insects appear in flight and at rest among grape clusters, peaches, citrus fruit, nuts, snails, and curling vines, all articulated through precise wirework and subtly shaded enamels that give the motifs depth and movement.


The main body of the vase is dominated by a lively scene of quail, depicted in various poses as they forage among grasses and low flowering plants. The birds are carefully modeled with finely layered plumage, using delicate gradations of brown, cream, and soft gray to convey texture and volume. Surrounding the quail is an abundant array of seasonal flowers and foliage, including blossoms with rounded and star-like forms, slender grasses, and trailing vines, all arranged to create a balanced yet animated composition that wraps continuously around the vessel.


The combination of insects, fruit, birds, and flowers reflects a Meiji-period interest in the natural world and the changing seasons, emphasizing harmony, fertility, and abundance. The complexity of the design, together with the controlled use of color and the high quality of the enamel surfaces, demonstrates a high level of craftsmanship and places this vase firmly within the tradition of accomplished late nineteenth-century Japanese cloisonné enamel work.



Mint condition no chips to the enamel consistent with age and use. Has a previous drill hole to the bottom that’s been filled. See less