Ginbari And Musen Enameled Silver Vase. Meiji Japan. Takasaki? Namikawa Sousuke Workshop?

Ginbari and Musen enamelled silver vase Fish decor. Japan Meiji late 19th century. Silver vase. The lower part enamelled in celestial blue, decorated with fish in ginbari (incisions on the base metal) and musen (enameling without wires of much more complex realization). A dragon wraps around the collar. In the middle a finely damascened gold ring. Artist's mark below, signed with 2 characters incised in a gold cartridge. We have not found which artist it was, however, in the Khalili collection, there is a vase with also enameled decoration (musen and ginbari) decorated with identical fish which is signed Takasaki, an unknown enameller who would have worked in the workshop of Namikawa Sosuké. On the neck appear the scratches of the dragons which have been subtly chiseled by the artist for an original natural rendering of the same, the enamelling of the fish is exceptionally realistic, the scales, their iridescent colors, the slight cloudiness of the water. Great art. A similar model, but easier to make in cloisonné, with ostentatious but unartistic colors and design, was sold in 2010 for $116,000.
Japanese work of goldsmithery and exceptional enamelling, Meiji period end of the 19th century.
A shock to the shoulder without loss of enamel (see detail on photo).
Height: 168mm.