Ashmolean Eastern Art Online, Yousef Jameel Centre for Islamic and Asian Art

The art of shippō-yaki or enamelling, i.e. the fusing of coloured vitreous pastes on a metal base, was known to the Japanese at a very early period, but was subsequently lost until towards 1600, when the trade with China led to its revival. At this latter date it was much used for various small objects, but not for vases, bowls, dishes and the like, this class of work not appearing in Japan before the middle of the 19^th century.

The use of fine cloisonné work on sword-furniture begins with Hirata [Japanese text] Dōnin (d. 1646), who was sole court enameller to the Tokugawa Shōgun and was succeeded in that post by ten of his descendants in turn. Their enamels are for the most part in gold cloisons and are inlaid in iron, shakudō or other metal grounds. A peculiar feature is the addition of tiny spirals and scrolls (“Hirata curls”) in inlay of gold wire.

Translucent enamel appears first about 1770, in the time of the 7^th Master, Narisuke (d. 1816); but during the 19^th century many older pieces were re-decorated with cloisonné enamels of this nature.

The coarse enamelling done on Hirado and Nagasaki work is illustrated in [another chapter] and at the beginning of the present group respectively.

Champlevè work

Octagonal tsuba with Chinese pendent (EAX.11143)    Round tsuba with flowers, foliage, and dragons (EAX.11144)    Tsuba with 'long life' character, butterfly, and leaves (EAX.11145)

Hexagonal tsuba with palmettes (EAX.11146)    Lenticular tsuba with bamboo stems and tigers (EAX.11147)    Tsuba with bamboo (EAX.11148)

Lobed tsuba with ovals (EAX.11149)    Round tsuba in the form of a shippō diaper, with Luck Objects (EAX.11150)    Tsuba in the form of four leaves (EAX.11151)

Tsuba with turnip and butterfly (EAX.11152)    Tsuba with butterflies (EAX.11153)    Tsuba with double-gourd plants (EAX.11154)

Tsuba with blossoming plum tree (EAX.11155)    Mokkō-shaped tsuba with rain dragon and blossoming plum tree (EAX.11156)

Cloisonnè enamel

(Usually translucent and in gold cloisons.)

Lobed tsuba with chrysanthemum mon and scrolls (EAX.11157)    Tsuba with nightingale, plum tree, and purple clouds (EAX.11158)    Tsuba with flowers, clouds, and karakusa, or scrolling plant pattern (EAX.11159)

Aori-shaped tsuba with flowers, clouds, and karakusa, or scrolling plant pattern (EAX.11160)    Tsuba with flowers and karakusa, or scrolling plant pattern (EAX.11161)    Tsuba with flowers and clouds (EAX.11162)

Mokkō-shaped tsuba with chrysanthemums, plum blossoms, and clouds (EAX.11163)    Tsuba with phoenix and clouds (EAX.11164)    Tsuba in the form of a chrysanthemum mon (EAX.11165)

Aori-shaped tsuba depicting charms, coins, and three of the Seven Treasures (EAX.11166)    [obj]EAX.11167[/obj]   Tsuba with kiku-karakusa, or floral scrolls (EAX.11168)

Tsuba with conventional ornament (EAX.11169)    Octagonal tsuba with plum tree and ground bamboo (EAX.11170)    Tsuba with wild geese and shells (EAX.11171)

Round tsuba with flowers and scrolls (EAX.11172)    Round tsuba with trees and flowers (EAX.11173)    Round tsuba with chrysanthemum mon (EAX.11174)

Tsuba with clouds, plum blossoms, and aoi, or hollyhock leaves (EAX.11175)    Tsuba with plants and a fan mount (EAX.11176)    Tsuba in the form of gingko leaves (EAX.11177)

Tsuba with clouds and stars (EAX.11178)    Mokkō-shaped tsuba with wood grain decoration (EAX.11179)    Tsuba with butterflies and mon crest of the Hori of Iida (EAX.11180)