Meiji Japanese Cloisonne Enamel Vase With Bijin in Blue Kimono, Circa 1890

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An elegant Japanese cloisonne enamel vase from the Meiji period, circa 1890, featuring a beautifully rendered Japanese beauty, or bijin, … Read more An elegant Japanese cloisonne enamel vase from the Meiji period, circa 1890, featuring a beautifully rendered Japanese beauty, or bijin, dressed in a magnificent cobalt blue kimono against a deep, lustrous black enamel ground.

Standing 6 inches tall, this finely executed vase is distinguished by its striking contrast of brilliant polychrome enamels against a richly polished black background. The composition captures the refinement and artistic sophistication of Japanese decorative arts during the late 19th century.

The central figure is depicted wearing an elaborate flowing kimono in vivid royal blue, decorated throughout with delicate white floral blossoms. Her beautifully arranged traditional hairstyle, delicately rendered facial features, and graceful posture convey the elegance associated with Japanese bijin imagery, a subject celebrated in Japanese painting, woodblock prints, and decorative arts.

Particularly impressive is the treatment of the kimono, where the artist has employed brilliant blue enamels, intricate wirework, and carefully articulated folds to create a remarkable sense of movement and textile richness. The contrasting turquoise obi, decorated with colorful blossoms, adds another layer of visual complexity.

Surrounding the figure are flowering plants rendered in shades of emerald green, lavender, violet, white, and soft pink. The blossoms and foliage feature delicate enamel detailing, creating a subtle interplay of color and texture against the mirror like black ground.

The decoration is concentrated primarily on the front and extends gracefully around the sides, leaving much of the reverse in uninterrupted glossy black enamel. This restrained approach gives the composition a particularly elegant and dramatic presentation, allowing the colorful figure and flowers to emerge vividly from the dark background.

The vase has a classical baluster form with rounded shoulders, a gently tapering body, a short neck, and a slightly flared mouth. Metal mounts finish the rim and foot, complementing the rich enamel surface.

During the Meiji period, Japanese cloisonne artists achieved extraordinary technical advances in enamel production, transforming the medium into one of Japan's most celebrated decorative art forms. Figural compositions such as this required considerable artistic skill, particularly in the rendering of facial expressions, elaborate garments, and the delicate transitions between colors.

The combination of its vivid blue kimono, finely detailed female figure, colorful flowering plants, and highly polished black ground makes this vase a particularly attractive example of Meiji period Japanese cloisonne.

An elegant and highly decorative work, ideally suited for collectors of Japanese Meiji art, cloisonne enamel, and traditional Japanese figural imagery.

**Dimensions:** 6 inches high.

**Origin:** Japan

**Period:** Meiji period, circa 1890

**Materials:** Cloisonne enamel and metal mounts. See less