Masters of Enamel: The Collection of John and Muriel Okladek | Including Further Japanese Works of Art from the Meiji Period, 1868-1912

Masters of Enamel: The Collection of John and Muriel Okladek | Including Further Japanese Works of Art from the Meiji Period, 1868-1912

View full screen - View 1 of Lot 64. A cloisonné enamel vase with sparrows and wisteria | Attributed to Hayashi Kodenji (1831-1915) | Meiji period, late 19th century.

Property from the John and Muriel Okladek Collection

A cloisonné enamel vase with sparrows and wisteria | Attributed to Hayashi Kodenji (1831-1915) | Meiji period, late 19th century

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Lot Closed

November 3, 03:04 PM GMT

Estimate

1,500 - 1,800 GBP

Lot Details

Description

Property from the John and Muriel Okladek Collection

A cloisonné enamel vase with sparrows and wisteria 

Attributed to Hayashi Kodenji (1831-1915)

Meiji period, late 19th century


the oviform vase tapering towards the foot and short everted neck, decorated in various coloured enamels and thicknesses of gold and silver wire, with two finches perched among trailing branches of wisteria, the exterior of the rim with stylised flower heads and scrolling karakusa, silvered and copper mounts 

9.5 cm., 3¾ in. high

Hayashi Kodenji was a pivotal figure in the history of cloisonné enamel manufacturer. He was instrumental in the formation and leadership of the Shippo-cho enamellers guild, and it is probable that he worked for the Nagoya-based Shippo Kaisha. As well as being an innovative enameller he was also an astute businessman. Stories are told that in his early days he walked from Nagoya to Yokohama to sell his wares at a time when there was a long-standing prohibition on selling copper (which included the body of the cloisonné objects). He worked with his son, Kodenji II for over 40 years and it is often hard to differentiate the work of the two makers. He exhibited and won prizes at many international exhibitions: Nuremberg 1885 (silver), Paris 1889 (silver) and St Louis 1904 (gold). In 1912 Glendining of London auctioned over 300 ‘Japanese cloisonné enamels from the Glasgow Exhibition offered for sale by Mr. K Hayashi of Nagoya’.