Vase depicting Shugakuin Rikyu
Description
Mark: Kyoto Namikawa
Namikawa Yasuyuki (1845–1927) was one of the Meiji period’s foremost makers of cloisonné enamels of the highest standards. Namikawa began his career around 1868 and worked with the Kyoto Cloisonné Company from 1871 to 1874. He then established his studio and began to exhibit his work at national and international expositions, such as Philadelphia (1876), the First National Industrial Exposition, Tokyo (1877), and Paris (1878).
Yasuyuki’s cloisonné enamels are characterised by the skilful use of intricate wirework and superb attention to detail. The designs in his later work tend to be pictorial and consist mainly of scenes from nature and views of landmarks in and around Kyoto as can be seen in two of the pieces here. All of these works are characterised by a pictorial composition balanced against large expanses of pure-coloured enamel.
The vase is decorated with silver and gold wires and subtly shaded enamels, which made Yasuyuki’s work expensive and desirable. The body of the vase depicts the Shugakuin Detached Palace in Kyoto.
Sir Ratan Tata Art Collection
Collection
Japanese Art
Artist
Namikawa Yasuyuki
Object Type
Vase
Material
Enamel colours, Silver and gold wires
Schools/Culture/Period
Meiji period
Technique
Cloissone
Date
Late 19th – early 20th century CE
Location
Japan
Dimension
height:17.5 cm