Description
With Original Tomobako
From our Japanese collection, we are delighted to introduce this Japanese Plique-à-jour Cloisonne Enamel Vase by the Ando Company. The vase of squat globular form beautifully decorated with light green transparent ground and various polychrome blossoming flowers with bright foliage. The vase is mounted with silver plate top rim and foot rim and is contained with the original wooden tomobako which is engraved to the base “Ando Cloisonne Company”. The Japanese Plique-à-jour Cloisonne Enamel Vase by the Ando Company dates to the middle of the 20th century during the early Showa period (1945–1989) circa 1950.
Tomobako
is the name for the wooden boxes in which Japanese artworks, ranging from paintings, small sculptures, ceramics, porcelains and lacquer works are stored.
Plique-à-jour
(French for “letting in daylight”) is a delicate enamelling technique that creates a stained glass-like effect in metalwork, often seen in fine jewellery and decorative art. Plique-à-jour is similar to cloisonné enamel, where enamel is held within metal compartments, plique-à-jour uses fine metal framework to hold the enamel however, unlike cloisonné, it lacks a backing, allowing light to pass through the translucent or transparent enamel, enhancing its luminosity and colour. Plique-à-jour is a very challenging technique, it was very popular in Art Nouveau jewellery in Europe and objects in Japan from the Meiji Period onwards, it is highly prized and collected for its complexity and beauty.
ANDO CLOISONNE COMPANY (安藤七宝店)
The Ando Cloisonné Company, founded in Nagoya in 1880, is one of Japan’s leading cloisonné enamel workshops. Known for pioneering techniques such as musen (wireless) cloisonné and plique-à-jour, Ando earned Imperial patronage and international acclaim. Today, the firm continues to produce exceptional cloisonné, preserving Japan’s rich enamel tradition while showcasing its artistry worldwide. See our makers and retailers page on the Ando Cloisonné Company (安藤七宝店)for further information.
CLOISONNE
Cloisonné is a traditional decorative art that involves applying thin metal wires to form compartments (cloisons) on a metal surface, which are then filled with colourful enamel. After multiple firings and polishings, the result is a vibrant, glass-like finish with intricate designs. The technique has roots in ancient China but was perfected in Japan during the Meiji period (1868–1912), often referred to as the Golden Age of Cloisonné. Japanese artists developed advanced methods such as musen shippō(wireless cloisonné) and shōtai shippō (plique-à-jour), creating seamless, naturalistic, and even translucent effects. Highly prized for its precision, artistry, and beauty, Japanese cloisonné is regarded as one of the finest forms of enamel craftsmanship in the world and remains highly collectible today. See our post The Art of Japanese Cloisonné: History, Craftsmanship, and the Golden Age for further information.
SHOWA PERIOD (1926–1989)
The Showa era, under Emperor Hirohito, was a time of dramatic change in Japan. Spanning pre-war militarism, post-war recovery, and the “Japanese Economic Miracle,” the period reshaped both culture and craftsmanship. In the arts, traditional skills such as cloisonné, ceramics, and lacquerware adapted to modern tastes, balancing heritage with new design influences. Today, Showa-period works are valued for their blend of tradition and innovation, offering collectors a direct link to Japan’s transformation in the 20th century. See our post The Shōwa Period in Japan: From Turbulence to Transformation for further information.
Enamel
(vitreous enamel) also known as porcelain enamel, is a material made by fusing powdered glass to a substrate by firing, usually between 750 and 850 °C. The powder melts, flows, and then hardens to a smooth, durable vitreous coating. The word vitreous comes from the Latin vitreous, meaning “glassy”.
Measurements
9cm High x 9cm Diameter (3.54 Inches)
Condition
Excellent
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