How were cloisonne plates displayed?

These decorative chargers and plates were typically exhibited on stands or hung on walls rather than used for food. Their intricate enamel surfaces made them prized ornamental objects in period interiors. Collectors continue to display them on dedicated stands to showcase the fine wirework and enamel detail.

What motifs appear on these plates?

Common subjects include birds such as phoenixes, herons, and owls, alongside aquatic creatures like koi fish and shrimp. Floral arrangements, landscapes featuring Mount Fuji, and samurai figures also appear. Ausipicious symbols and traditional mon crests frequently complete the pictorial compositions.

How do I identify Meiji period pieces?

Meiji period plates often feature exceptionally fine wirework and complex pictorial scenes created between 1868 and 1912. The precision of the cloisonne cells and the depth of the enamel colour help distinguish them. Signatures or marks on the reverse can sometimes provide specific workshop attribution.

What is Totai Shippo?

Totai Shippo is a specialised Japanese technique where enamel is applied over a porcelain core instead of metal. Artisans frequently built up the surface to resemble textured tree bark before adding coloured enamels. Plates made this way combine the qualities of ceramics and traditional cloisonne work.