The art of cloisonné enamel dates back thousands of years, having first originated in ancient Egypt. It is believed that in Japan they began to use this technique since the 7th century. Japanese craftsmen have achieved unprecedented perfection in the art of creating products from cloisonne enamel and have brought many innovations to it. One variation of this technique is called musen shippo, where “shippo” means “the seven treasures of Buddhism”: gold, silver, lapis lazuli, crystal, pearls, coral and agate. This word emphasizes that the work of enamellers is comparable in beauty to these treasures.
At the initial stage of work, musen shippo is similar to cloisonne enamel: the master also lays out the wire on the surface of the product. Then the cells are filled with slip. However, just before firing, the wire partitions are removed. As a result of enamel sintering, soft patterns with blurred, fuzzy boundaries are obtained. This technique is very good for creating landscape images.
Musen shippo enamels products
Musen shippo enamel vase modern product of ANDO JUBEI COMPANY.Tray by Namikawa Sosuke 1847 1910 depicting two quails, 30 cm high circa 1890 1895.Koro incense burner by Namikawa Sosuke 1847 1910, 37 x 38 cm circa 1895.Fish vase by Ando Jubei 1876 1953 height 37.7 cm.Dove enamel plate by Namikawa Sosuke 1847 1910, 37 x 38 cm.Five vases depicting herons, circa 1900.Tray made by Namikawa Sosuke 1847 1910, height 31 cm circa 1890 1895.Box by Namikawa Sosuke 1847 1910, 9.7 cm long circa 1900.Tray by Namikawa Sosuke 1847 1910, height 28.8 cm circa 1880 1890.Box by Namikawa Sosuke 1847 1910 depicting a rooster, 12.6 cm long circa 1900.Jar with lid Namikawa Yasuyuki 1845–1927, depicting a temple in a landscape 10.5 cm high early 20th century.Tray by Namikawa Sosuke 1847 1910, depicting a heron and irises 20 cm long circa 1900.Box overlooking Mount Fuji , length 13.7 cm circa 1900.Suzuri bako writing box depicting a deer at the foot of a mountain and sugi cedar groves in the fog. by Hattori Tadasaburo 1939 height 22 cm circa 1900.Tray by Namikawa Sosuke 1847 1910, height 27 cm circa 1900.Enamel vase with a scenic view of Mount Fuji in the Tokai region ANDO JUBEI COMPANY. Musen shippo enamel cigarette case with chrysanthemums. Ando Jubei 1876 1953 height 12 cm circa 1920.Silver vase by Namikawa Yasuyuki, 1845 1927. depicting Itsukushima Shrine height 10.8 cm circa 1900.Mount Fuji enamel plate made by Ando Cloisonne Co. Ltd Ando Cloisonne Museum Nagoya.Winter landscape enamel plate by Namikawa Sosuke, 1847 1910. Large enamel vase with sparrow and aubergine stalk Ando Jubei 1876 1953 37 cm high circa 1900.Pair of carp vases by Namikawa Sosuke 1847 1910, height 36 cm late 19th century.
