Copper Cloisonne Display Plate
These copper cloisonne display plate pieces are striking Japanese works of metalwork and enamel that bring intricate birds, dragons, and landscapes into a room.
Copper Cloisonne Display Plate
When you search for copper cloisonne display plate, you are looking at large chargers, trays, and decorative plates originating from Japan during the Edo and Meiji periods. These pieces are designed primarily for display rather than utility, showcasing remarkable pictorial subjects across broad metal surfaces. The version you are most likely to meet on this page is a charger dating from the late nineteenth century, measuring around thirty to forty centimetres across.
The decorative subjects found on these chargers draw heavily from traditional Japanese iconography. Common motifs include leaping koi, phoenix birds, dragons, owls before Mount Fuji, shrimps, and samurai figures. Each plate functions as a canvas where metal wire and coloured enamel capture detailed scenes of wildlife, mythology, and historical figures.
How they were made
The construction of a copper cloisonne display plate begins with a base of copper, sometimes reinforced or edged with brass. Artisans solder thin brass wire onto the metal surface to outline the complex patterns and subjects, creating tiny cellular compartments known as cloisons. These individual cells are then carefully packed with vitreous enamel pastes in various colours before firing.
Following the firing process, the surface is ground down and polished to reveal the delicate metal network holding the coloured enamels in place. The combination of beaten copper foundations, soldered wire outlines, and fused vitreous enamel requires immense precision. This technique allows the maker to achieve sharp contrasts between the metallic grid and the vibrant coloured fields.
Materials recorded in the inventory include copper, brass, wood, vitreous enamel, and brass wire used for defining intricate pictorial cloisons.
What varies in quality
The quality of a copper cloisonne display plate rests largely on the fineness of the wirework and the complexity of the pictorial composition. Masterpieces feature exceptionally thin, uniform wire that delineates intricate anatomical details in subjects like dragons, koi, and feathers without distortion. Lesser examples show thicker, coarser wire grids and simpler, repetitive background patterns that lack pictorial depth.
Another measure of quality is the purity and evenness of the vitreous enamel filling the cells. Superior works display smooth, densely packed enamel fields free from major pitting or discoloration, whereas lower grades show uneven shrinkage and cloudy surfaces. Signed pieces and those depicting elaborate figural scenes like samurai or multiple mythical beasts often represent the highest tier of craftsmanship.
The Copper Cloisonne Display Plate Glossary
- Cloisonne enamel
- A technique where vitreous enamel is applied to compartments formed by soldering metal wires to a metal base. This method creates detailed pictorial designs bounded by fine metallic lines.
- Charger
- A large ornamental plate or platter meant for display on a wall or stand rather than for serving food. These expansive surfaces provide ample room for elaborate decorative scenes.
- Vitreous enamel
- A material made by fusing powdered glass to a substrate by firing, usually at high temperatures. It produces a durable and glossy coloured coating across the metal plate.
- Ho-o bird
- A mythical Chinese and Japanese phoenix symbolising virtue, grace, and imperial authority. It frequently appears with elaborate plumage on nineteenth-century decorative chargers.
Copper Cloisonne Display Plate: Frequently Asked Questions
How are copper cloisonne display plates cleaned?
Dust the surface gently with a soft, dry cloth to prevent any accumulation of dirt within the wire network. Avoid using chemical cleaners, water, or abrasive polishes, as these can harm the vitreous enamel and the exposed metal wire.
Keeping the piece away from direct sunlight and damp environments helps preserve the vibrant colours of the enamel over time. Handle the edges carefully, supporting the weight of the charger from beneath.
Were these plates used for serving food?
These decorative chargers and trays were intended primarily for display on tables, cabinets, or walls. The delicate enamel surface and raised wire cloisons are not suited for practical dining use.
Utilising them as decorative art objects protects the intricate pictorial scenes from scratching or staining. Most examples include or accommodate display stands suited for vertical presentation.
How do I identify a Meiji period piece?
Meiji period pieces often exhibit exceptional refinement in wirework and a wide palette of vibrant vitreous enamels. The subjects commonly feature naturalistic animals, mythical creatures, or cultural motifs executed with high technical precision.
Examining the reverse of the copper plate can reveal workshop signatures or specific finishing techniques typical of late nineteenth-century Japanese production.
What is the difference between a tray and a charger?
Chargers are typically larger, heavier circular plates designed explicitly for visual impact and decorative display. Trays may feature slightly different rim profiles or proportions, though both serve as surfaces for cloisonne enamel artistry.
Both forms utilise the same fundamental technique of copper bases, brass wire, and coloured vitreous enamel to portray complex subjects.