+Japan 1900 Meiji Period Charger With A Dragon In Cloisonné Multicolor Enamel

Large charger in cloisonné from imperial Japan.

Beautiful piece of Japanese decorative arts, created during the Meiji imperial period, circa 1900. Crafted in solid bronze with copper wires and cloisonné color enamels. The predominant colors are blue and black, with the mythological orientalist figure of a flying dragon, surrounded by multiples geometrical figures and abstractions of the chrysanthemum flowers.

Meiji period

This Japanese era extended from October 23, 1868 to July 30, 1912.The Meiji era was the first half of the Empire of Japan, when the Japanese people moved from being an isolated feudal society at risk of colonization by Western powers to the new paradigm of a modern, industrialized nation state and emergent great power, influenced by Western scientific, technological, philosophical, political, legal, and aesthetic ideas. As a result of such wholesale adoption of radically different ideas, the changes to Japan were profound, and affected its social structure, internal politics, economy, military, and foreign relations. The period corresponded to the reign of Emperor Meiji. It was preceded by the Keiō era and was succeeded by the Taishō era, upon the accession of Emperor Taishō.

Cloisonné 

This is an enameling technique in which the pattern is formed by wires soldered to the surface of the object to be decorated, which is usually made from copper, forming cells or cloisons, each of which holds a single colour of enamel paste which is then fired, and ground and polished. The champlevé technique also uses an enameling technique, but the cells are formed by carving into the surface of the object, or in the casting. The cloisonné technique has been in use since the 12th century BC in the west, but the technique did not reach China until the 13th or 14th century. It became popular in China in the 18th century. Initially bronze or brass bodies were used, and in the 19th century copper, at which time the quality of the items produced began to decline. Chinese cloisonné is the best known enamel cloisonné, though the Japanese produced large quantities from the mid-19th century, of very high technical quality. In the west the cloisonné technique was revived in the mid 19th century following imports from China, and its use continued in the Art Nouveau and Art Deco periods.

Measurements: Have a diameter of 300 mm (11.81 Inches) and raise 38.1 mm (1.50 Inches) over the base.

Condition: The overall condition of this piece is excellent. Beside the little normal wear, there is no damage to the bronze. The cloisonné parts are secured in the settings. This piece has been carefully inspected to guarantee the condition and authenticity.

INVENTORY REF: D091923SNMY/.6723