Ando Cloisonne Company (安藤七宝店)
(Established 1880 – Present)
The Ando Cloisonné Company (Ando Jubei Shippōten) is one of Japan’s most celebrated enamel workshops, founded in Nagoya in 1880 and still active today. The company rose to prominence during the late Meiji period, when Owari province had become the centre of Japanese cloisonné production.
The origins of the firm trace back to the Ando family, who originally operated a pipe shop known as Murata-ya. After the early deaths of his parents in 1877, Ando Jubei (born Jusaburo, 1876–1953) was raised by the family’s employees and later joined forces with his brother-in-law Ando Juzaemon (born Matsukichi). Together they transformed the family business into an internationally recognised enamel house.
Japanese Cloisonne Enamel Vase by Ando Jubei
available in our cloisonne collection at Jacksons Antique
In 1893, Ando Juzaemon travelled abroad for the first time, attending the World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago to study Western tastes and markets. In 1901, Ando Jubei followed, spending two years in Britain after exhibiting at the Glasgow International Exhibition. These early overseas experiences shaped the company’s approach to both artistic design and international trade. On their return, the Ando family appointed Kawade Shibataro (1856–1921) as head of the studio. Kawade was a master innovator who advanced techniques such as plique-à-jour (tōtai shippō), which produces translucent enamels resembling stained glass. Under his leadership, Ando Cloisonné perfected a range of techniques, including musen shippō (wireless cloisonné), yūsen shippō (wired cloisonné), moriage shippō (raised cloisonné), and many others that remain hallmarks of their production.
Close up of the Ando Cloisonne Company Mark led by Ando Jubei
A Second example of the ando mark on an original tomobako (box)
The Paris Exposition Universelle of 1900 marked a turning point, with Japanese enamels becoming highly sought after in Europe and America. By 1918, over fifty cloisonné artisans were active in Owari, with Ando at the forefront. The company was awarded an Imperial Warrant of Appointment to supply cloisonné to the Japanese court and frequently produced state gifts. A notable example was a vase presented to Manchukuo Prime Minister Zheng Xiaoxu, who inscribed it with calligraphy praising its craftsmanship. Ando continued to adapt and innovate throughout the 20th century. In 2018, the company partnered with Seiko to produce enamel dials for the limited-edition Presage watches, demonstrating how its traditional skills remain relevant in modern design.
Example of mid century wireless cloisonne by the ando company available at Jacksons antique
Today, Ando is one of the very few surviving cloisonné companies in Japan. Its main store in Sakae, Nagoya, houses a small museum featuring historic works by the firm and other celebrated enamel artists such as Namikawa Yasuyuki. Ando cloisonné is represented in major international collections, including the Walters Art Museum in Baltimore and the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.
With a history spanning nearly a century and a half, the Ando Cloisonné Company stands as a symbol of Japanese enamel artistry, bridging traditional craft with international innovation.