Japanese Cloisonné Enamel And Silver Vase, Meiji Period (circa 1880)

Japanese cloisonné enamel and silver vase, Meiji period (circa 1880) Elegant Japanese cloisonné enamel baluster vase with stylized decoration on an emerald green background, resting on a silver base and also encircled with silver at the neck. This type of piece is emblematic of the know-how of Japanese artisans at the end of the Meiji period (circa 1880), a period during which the art of cloisonné (shippo) achieved remarkable technical mastery. The decoration, geometrically inspired and repetitive, is executed with extreme finesse in shades of nuanced green, using the cloisonné technique: the motifs are delimited by fine separations visible in the lighter areas, attesting to the underlying cloisonné in the enamel. The enamel is intact over the entire surface, without cracks, chips or restoration, and the interior is also enameled in a beautiful light turquoise. The base of the vase features, in the center of the enameled bottom (and not on the silver), a stylized lotus flower with four petals in a circle, likely a Japanese workshop mark. Another signature in Japanese characters is also engraved on the silver rim. The whole demonstrates careful work, both in the enameling and in the metal finish. Characteristics: Origin: Japan Period: Meiji period, late 19th century (circa 1880) Technique: Cloisonné enamel (shippo) on metal, silver rims Decoration: Stylized geometric patterns on a nuanced green background Marks: Stylized lotus flower with four petals in a circle (on the bottom, on the enamel) Japanese signature engraved on the silver rim Height: 31 cm Maximum diameter: 15 cm Gross weight: 1.350 kg Condition: Excellent condition; no chips or restorations; perfectly preserved enamel on the outside and inside; patinated silver