Description

Export of cloisonné enamels, in which a glassy substance is fired into patterns on a metal surface using dividing wires, was a cornerstone of Japan’s participation in the international decorative arts trade during the late 1800s and early 1900s. The country was known around the world for its technical expertise in this craft. This piece has had wires removed before firing to create a surface without borderlines, demonstrating a process called musen shippō, or “wireless enamel.”