Japanese Copper Enamel Plate
A Japanese copper enamel plate brings intricate Meiji and Edo artistry to a room, offering rich imagery in metal and vitreous colour.
Japanese Copper Enamel Plate
A japanese copper enamel plate spans forms such as decorative chargers, trays, and plaques created during the Meiji and Edo periods. The selection focuses heavily on chargers and plates featuring animal and mythical subjects.
Motive work ranges from leaping koi and dragons to phoenixes and Mount Fuji. Examples date from the mid-nineteenth century through to nineteen hundred.
How they were made
The foundation relies on a copper base shaped into plates, chargers, or trays. Vitreous enamel is then applied to the metal surface to build the colourful design.
Brass wire outlines the detailed motifs, creating cells that hold the enamel pastes before firing. Wood elements occasionally appear alongside the metalwork.
Listings span the Meiji Period and Edo Period, utilising copper, enamel, brass wire, and wood across plates and chargers.
What varies in quality
Quality rests on the precision of the wirework and the complexity of the imagery depicted. Pieces bearing intricate iconography like single dragons or multiple deities display superior execution.
Scale and ambition separate standard decorative plates from large chargers and signed masterworks. The depth of the enamel palette also distinguishes finer production.
The Japanese Copper Enamel Plate Glossary
- Cloisonne Enamel
- A technique where fine metal wires are soldered to a metal base to form compartments filled with enamel paste. This method defines the primary surface decoration of these plates.
- Charger
- A large decorative plate intended for display rather than dining use. These pieces often feature prominent central motifs such as dragons or birds.
- Meiji Period
- A historical Japanese era spanning from eighteen sixty-eight to nineteen twelve. Many pieces on this page originate from this time of intense artistic output.
- Edo Period
- The period preceding the Meiji era, lasting from sixteen hundred and three to eighteen sixty-seven. Early examples in the selection date back to these decades.
- Vitreous Enamel
- A glass-like substance fused to the copper base through high-temperature firing. It provides the smooth, coloured surface characteristic of the craft.
Japanese Copper Enamel Plate: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I display a large charger?
Large chargers are typically shown on sturdy plate stands or hung securely on walls using specialist fixings.
Position them away from direct sunlight to protect the coloured enamel from fading over time.
What subjects appear on these plates?
Motifs frequently include dragons, ho-o birds, phoenixes, koi, and figures such as samurai or buddahs.
Some plates also incorporate Mount Fuji, auspicious symbols, or mon crests within the design.
How do I tell Edo and Meiji pieces apart?
Dating relies heavily on stylistic shifts, construction traits, and recorded circa dates from historical markers.
Edo period pieces represent earlier manufacturing traditions, while Meiji examples reflect the expansion of decorative export arts.
Are these plates meant for daily use?
These items serve primarily as decorative objects and wall plaques rather than functional tableware.
Care should be taken when handling them to avoid impacting the copper and enamel surfaces.