Japanese Cloisonne Enamel Ho-o Bird Charger. Circa 1880. Similar item illustrated in Japanese Cloisonne - Coben and Ferster [Plate 44]. Superbly and finely decorated Japanese cloisonne piece. Pair of birds, flowers and stars, all revolving merrily around a centralised stylized chrysanthemum. Ho-o Birds within the clouds (of the heavens). Known in English as the hoho bird, is the Japanese pronunciation of the more common name, Fenghuang, a bird from East Asian mythology with similarities to the phoenix. Variety of rich enamel colours of reds, reds, blues and ivory enamel work typical of period and style. High-quality cloisonné for the era, with skilled brass wire work and multi-coloured enamels, including rare and unusual light green dots at the end of the feather tendrils. Body is decorated with foliage and stylized clouds / geometrical patterns. The reverse similarly decorated. Substantial use of wires, both decorative and functional in anchoring the enamel in early Japanese c...