Pair of Early Meiji Japanese Cloisonne Enamel Jars Attributed Namikawa Yasuyuki

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An exceptional Japanese footed decorative tray by the celebrated cloisonné enamel artist Akira Shibata, completed in 1993 and exhibited in … Read more An exceptional Japanese footed decorative tray by the celebrated cloisonné enamel artist Akira Shibata, completed in 1993 and exhibited in 1994. The work is signed by Shibata on the reverse and is accompanied by its original fitted wooden tomobako, inscribed with calligraphy and bearing the artist’s red seal.


The tray features a dynamic abstract composition of sweeping, undulating forms that suggest flowing water, curling waves, or ribbons unfolding across the surface. Deep tones of blue, gray, black, and muted violet are carefully layered to create a remarkable sense of movement and depth. The composition is both distinctly Japanese in its sensitivity to nature and strikingly modern in its abstraction.


Shibata’s mastery of yusen shippo, or wired cloisonné enamel, is evident throughout the piece. Delicate metal wires define the rhythmic contours of the design, while finely graduated enamels create subtle transitions between color and form. The luminous surface and controlled interplay of translucent and opaque enamels demonstrate the technical precision and artistic sophistication for which Shibata’s work is admired.


Raised on discreet feet, the tray has a sculptural presence and may be displayed as a functional decorative object or as a freestanding work of modern Japanese enamel art. Its original signed presentation box further enhances its importance and documents the artist, title, and date of production.


Signed on the reverse. Accompanied by its original signed and sealed wooden tomobako and documentation relating to its 1994 exhibition.


Measures approximately 9 3/4 x 11 3/4 inches. All measurements are approximate. See less