Vase with nandina berry branches, height 22 cm, Kawade Shibataro, Ando Cloisonné, early 20th century.
Kawade Shibataro (1856–1921) was one of the most famous enamellers of the “golden age” of Japanese enamel. Vases created by order of the imperial family were intended for diplomatic gifts and were marked with the chrysanthemum sign, the symbol of the imperial house.
Round cloisonné enamel box by Kawade Shibataro, from the collection of the George Walter Vincent Smith Museum of Art, Springfield.
In 1902 he became head of the company. While heading Ando Cloisonné until 1910, Kawade Shibataro developed a number of technical innovations and expanded the palette of enamels, which contributed to the success of the company, which received many awards at world exhibitions. It was a time of experimentation and technical innovation, when Japanese artists created absolutely amazing works that can no longer be reproduced with modern technology.
Vase depicting peacock feathers, Kawade Shibataro, circa 1905
Together with Hattori Tadasaburo, Kawade developed the Moriage-shippo 3D enamel technique, in which the three-dimensionality of the design is achieved through layering of enamels, a technique often used to depict leaves and flowers. His works combine both traditional techniques of cloisonné and wire-free enamel, as well as his own developments. He was one of the first Japanese enamellers to use the complex technique of stained glass enamel, recreating it based on European models brought from international exhibitions.
Another technique that owes its appearance to Kawada Shibataro is the drip glaze technique, with rainbow tints, called nagare-gusuri.
Imperial Vase with Maple Branches, copper, enamel, silver rim, Kawade Shibataro, Ando Cloisonné Company, circa 1906, from the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.Image details on the left is the figure of a beautiful empress on a soaring phoenix, on the right is a Chinese sage on the back of a dragon.Landscape vases by Kawade Shibataro (reverse side).Pair of vases depicting mountain and river landscapes, height 39 cm, Kawade Shibataro, early 20th century.Vase depicting flowers using the Moriage technique, height 37 cm, Kawade Shibataro, early 20th century.Vase depicting a mountain landscape, height 45.3 cm, Kawade Shibataro, early 20th century, from the Halili collection.Plum blossom pattern, height 40.2 cm, Kawade Shibataro, Ando Cloisonné, circa 1905, from the Khalili collection.Vase with a pattern of cherry blossoms and maple leaves, height 24 cm, considered to be the work of Kawade Shibataro, Ando Cloisonné, circa 1905.Vase with butterflies, height 18 cm, Kawade Shibataro, Ando Cloisonné, late 19th century.Box decorated with a basket with a flower arrangement symbolizing the four seasons, length 12 cm, Kawade Shibataro, 1900 1912, from the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.Vase of poppies, height 37 cm, believed to be the work of Kawade Shibataro, Ando Cloisonné, early 20th century, from the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.Pair of vases with images of lilies, copper, enamel, silver gilded rim, height 30 cm, Kawade Shibataro, late 19th century.Tray with a pair of doves, copper, enamel, 34.5×26.5 cm, Kawade Shibataro, late 19th century.Tray with the image of a rooster, hen and chick, copper, enamel, 29.5×29.5 cm, Kawade Shibataro, late 19th century.Bowl with autumn leaves and nagare gusuri enamel effect, Kawade Shibataro, circa 1908 1910.Floating Crabs vase, cloisonné, nagare gusuri enamel, height 37.5 cm, Kawade Shibataro, circa 1906.Vase with peacock feathers, copper, enamel, silver rim, height 23.5 cm, Kawade Shibataro, late 19th century.Vase with decoration of peacock feathers, copper, enamel, silver rim, height 34 cm, Kawade Shibataro, late 19th century.Jar with lid, decorated with three dimensional enamel depicting a grasshopper, vegetables and fruits, height 20 cm, Kawade Shibataro, Ando Cloisonné, circa 1905.Bowl with lid in the shape of a lotus leaf with a dragonfly, cloisonne and three dimensional enamel, diameter 21.5 cm, Kawade Shibataro, late 19th century.Silver vase with images of lilies using the Moriage technique, height 37 cm, Kawade Shibataro, early 20th century.Ando Cloisonné craftsmen at work, photo from the early 20th century.
