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ID #SA1209152
FOR SALE
£975
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Pair Japanese Totai Shippo Vases. Cloisonne Tree Bark - Birds / Flowers. Circa 1890.
For sale by Dragoncharger Antiques
for sale €1,141     $1,238
£975

Dragoncharger Antiques

Sellingantiques Verified Since Aug 2024
Browse dealers 175 items
  • About Us
    Specialising in early japanese cloisonne, edo enamel artisan period.
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Id #SA1209152
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Pair Japanese Totai Shippo Vases. Cloisonne Tree Bark - Birds / Flowers. Circa 1890.

19th century
Description

Pair Japanese Totai Shippo Vases. Cloisonne Tree Bark with Birds, Butterflies and Flowers. Circa 1890.

The creativity and artwork is superlative, and of the highest artisan quality. Finely rendered in the Totai Shippo technique on porcelain. Vases superbly decorated with bird sitting in a branch with poeonies flowering in full bloom, foliage fruiting with berries and visiting butterfly.

An extremely difficult process with superb workmanship, rich colours and beautiful contrast. Porcelain vessel with the finest of Cloisonné work incorporating Traditional Japanese Urushi Lacquer.

Condition: Superb original. Urushi lacquer work and porcelain in excellent condition.

[Display stand not included].

Dimensions:

Height = 21 cm

Diameter (widest point) = 9.5 cm

*Totai shippo, meaning "body cloisonné," is a Japanese ceramic technique where urushi lacquer cloisonne decoration is applied to a ceramic or porcelain base. This difficult technique was developed around 1868 by Sukamoto Kaisuke. Totai shippo or “Tree-bark” cloisonne is relatively fragile due to the delicate multi-layering and surfacing technique.

Date of Manufacture

Dragoncharger Antiques has dated these Japanese Totai Shippo Vases to the 1890s.

Physical Dimensions
Height
21cm (8.27")
Width
9.5cm (3.74")
Depth
9.5cm (3.74")
Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Reference
SA1209152
Dealers Internal Reference
D:06017
Description
Pair Japanese Totai Shippo Vases. Cloisonne Tree Bark with Birds, Butterflies and Flowers. Circa 1890.

The creativity and artwork is superlative, and of the highest artisan quality. Finely rendered in the Totai Shippo technique on porcelain.

“
Vases superbly decorated with bird sitting in a branch with poeonies flowering in full bloom, foliage fruiting with berries and visiting butterfly.
Dragoncharger Antiques
fig 1. A pair of Japanese Totai Shippo ceramic vases featuring dark brown tree-bark textured surfaces decorated with cloisonne birds and foliage.
fig 1. Pair Japanese Totai Shippo Vases. Cloisonne Tree Bark - Birds / Flowers. Circa 1890.

An extremely difficult process with superb workmanship, rich colours and beautiful contrast. Porcelain vessel with the finest of Cloisonné work incorporating Traditional Japanese Urushi Lacquer.

Condition: Superb original. Urushi lacquer work and porcelain in excellent condition.

fig 2. A pair of Japanese Totai Shippo ceramic vases featuring dark brown tree-bark textured surfaces decorated with cloisonne birds and foliage.
fig 2. Pair Japanese Totai Shippo Vases. Cloisonne Tree Bark - Birds / Flowers. Circa 1890.

[Display stand not included].

Dimensions:

Height = 21 cm

Diameter (widest point) = 9.5 cm

Totai shippo, meaning "body cloisonné," is a Japanese ceramic technique where urushi lacquer cloisonne decoration is applied to a ceramic or porcelain base. This difficult technique was developed around 1868 by Sukamoto Kaisuke. Totai shippo or “Tree-bark” cloisonne is relatively fragile due to the delicate multi-layering and surfacing technique.

Date of Manufacture

Dragoncharger Antiques has dated these Japanese Totai Shippo Vases to the 1890s.

Height
21cm (8.27")
Width
9.5cm (3.74")
Depth
9.5cm (3.74")
Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Ref
SA1209152
Dealers Internal Ref
D:06017
Dragoncharger Antiques
Sellingantiques verified Since Aug 2024

Specialising in early japanese cloisonne, edo enamel artisan period.

Dealer Profile

You can view the stock and full dealer information on the Dragoncharger Antiques Profile Page

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A pair of Japanese Totai Shippo ceramic vases featuring dark brown tree-bark textured surfaces decorated with cloisonne birds and foliage.
1 / 10
Archive I A pair of Japanese Totai Shippo ceramic vases featuring dark brown tree-bark textured surfaces decorated with cloisonne birds and foliage.

Pair Japanese Totai Shippo Vases. Cloisonne Tree Bark - Birds / Flowers. Circa 1890.

Archive II A pair of Japanese Totai Shippo ceramic vases featuring dark brown tree-bark textured surfaces decorated with cloisonne birds and foliage. View II
Archive III A pair of Japanese Totai Shippo ceramic vases featuring dark brown tree-bark textured surfaces decorated with cloisonne birds and foliage. View III
Archive IV A pair of Japanese Totai Shippo ceramic vases featuring dark brown tree-bark textured surfaces decorated with cloisonne birds and foliage. View IV
Archive V A pair of Japanese Totai Shippo ceramic vases featuring dark brown tree-bark textured surfaces decorated with cloisonne birds and foliage. View V
Archive VI A pair of Japanese Totai Shippo ceramic vases featuring dark brown tree-bark textured surfaces decorated with cloisonne birds and foliage. View VI
Archive VII A pair of Japanese Totai Shippo ceramic vases featuring dark brown tree-bark textured surfaces decorated with cloisonne birds and foliage. View VII
Archive VIII A pair of Japanese Totai Shippo ceramic vases featuring dark brown tree-bark textured surfaces decorated with cloisonne birds and foliage. View VIII
Archive IX A pair of Japanese Totai Shippo ceramic vases featuring dark brown tree-bark textured surfaces decorated with cloisonne birds and foliage. View IX
Archive X A pair of Japanese Totai Shippo ceramic vases featuring dark brown tree-bark textured surfaces decorated with cloisonne birds and foliage. View X
Enlarged Archival View

Dragoncharger Antiques
Telephone 07974 144321
Location
Bristol
United Kingdom
Dealer Profile Page sellingantiques.co.uk/dragonchargerantiques
Verified Since Aug 2024
Items For Sale 175
Items Sold 20
Dragoncharger Antiques
Verified Since Aug 2024
View Dealer Info
Location: Bristol, United Kingdom
Profile: sellingantiques.co.uk/dragonchargerantiques
Verified
Aug 2024
For Sale
175
Sold
20
A pair of Japanese Totai Shippo ceramic vases featuring dark brown tree-bark textured surfaces decorated with cloisonne birds and foliage.
Pair Japanese Totai Shippo Vases. Cloisonne Tree Bark - Birds / Flowers. Circa 1890.
Ref: SA1209152
A pair of Japanese Totai Shippo ceramic vases featuring dark brown tree-bark textured surfaces decorated with cloisonne birds and foliage.
Detail View 1
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Archival Detail

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Cataloguer’s note

Written by Sellingantiques from the dealer’s photographs and listing
  • ObjectVases
  • Period19th century
  • StyleMeiji
  • MaterialCeramic, Enamel, Lacquer, Copper Wire
  • ColourDark Brown
  • MotifsTree bark texture, Birds in flight, Polychrome foliage, Elongated necks
  • SizeH 21 cm (8 in) x W 9.5 cm (4 in) x D 9.5 cm (4 in)

These two Meiji period Totai Shippo vases from circa 1890 are made from porcelain with applied urushi lacquer, enamel, and copper wire. Each dark brown vessel has an elongated neck and a textured tree bark finish, decorated with polychrome foliage, berries, flowers, and birds in flight. The technique combines traditional Japanese urushi lacquer with cloisonne work over a ceramic base. The pair stands 21 cm high with a 9.5 cm width and 9.5 cm depth, maintaining a uniform profile from base to rim. Suitable for display in a gentleman's library or on a mantelpiece, they fit well as a decorative pairing on a surface. Each piece exhibits a rounded body tapering into a tall cylindrical neck, complete with flat circular base rims.

FAQs

Totai Shippo refers to a specialised Japanese enamel technique developed during the Meiji period, where cloisonne enamel is applied directly onto a porcelain or ceramic vessel rather than a traditional metal core.

Craftsmen applied wire cloisons to porcelain bodies to form decorative motifs, filled the cells with vitreous enamel pastes, fired the vessel, and coated the surrounding surface in a textured lacquer or enamel to simulate natural tree bark.

Authentic pieces feature a visible ceramic body at the rim or base, wirework cloisonne detailing, and a distinctive matte, bark-textured ground surrounding polished polychrome enamels.

Positioning the pair symmetrically on a mantelpiece or sideboard introduces organic texture, deep colour tones, and historical Asian craftsmanship to a room layout.

Dust gently using a soft, dry brush to clean the textured surface, avoiding water, chemical cleaners, or liquid polishes that could compromise the lacquer or enamel layer.
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