Meiji Enamel Dragon Charger
These pieces for a meiji enamel dragon charger are large decorative works displaying formidable coiled beasts across metallic surfaces from late nineteenth-century Japan.
Meiji Enamel Dragon Charger
A meiji enamel dragon charger is a large circular display piece, often measuring over thirty centimetres, designed to sit on a surface or hang on a wall. The core forms on this page include chargers, plates, trays, dishes, and bowls produced during the Meiji period and late Edo period.
Makers shaped these items in copper, bronze, and brass, applying vitreous enamel cells to map out fierce imperial dragons. Most examples date from the 1860s through to 1900, spanning the transition of Japanese metalwork into export markets.
Materials and construction methods
Craftsmen built these vessels upon a metal base of copper, bronze, or brass, hammering or spinning the metal into circular plates and shallow bowls. They shaped intricate motifs using brass wire and silver wire soldered to the surface to form individual compartments for the enamel.
Workers filled these outlined cells with vitreous enamel paste, firing the pieces multiple times in a kiln until the glass fused with the metal substrate. Artisans then polished the entire surface down until the wire outlines and coloured glazes met in a smooth, continuous plane.
Meiji Enamel Dragon Charger Retail Price Guide 2026
Typical asking prices for meiji enamel dragon charger among the pieces listed under this phrase on Sellingantiques today, from the lower quarter to the upper quarter. They describe what is for sale here now, not the wider market.
Listings here span the 1860s to 1900, uniting late Edo period items with Meiji period export wares made from copper, bronze, and brass.
Variations in quality and execution
The depth and uniformity of the vitreous enamel glaze also signal the skill of the workshop. Even firing without pitting or discolouration across a large thirty or forty centimetre surface indicates superior kiln control.
The Meiji Enamel Dragon Charger Glossary
- Charger
- A large ornamental plate or platter intended primarily for display rather than dining use. These items typically measure significantly more than standard tableware.
- Cloisonne Enamel
- A technique where metal wires are soldered onto a base to create cells, which are then filled with vitreous paste and fired. This method creates detailed pictorial designs across metallic objects.
- Vitreous Enamel
- A material made by fusing powdered glass to a metal substrate through intense heat in a kiln. The resulting coating provides a glossy, durable coloured surface.
- Meiji Period
- The era in Japanese history spanning from 1868 to 1912, characterised by extensive international trade and the production of refined export art. Metalwork from this time achieved exceptional technical refinement.
Meiji Enamel Dragon Charger: Frequently Asked Questions
How should I clean a meiji enamel dragon charger?
Dust the surface gently with a soft, dry microfibre cloth to remove everyday particles. Avoid all liquid cleaners, abrasive cloths, or metal polishes.
Moisture can seep into microscopic fissures in the wirework or exposed metal bases, causing corrosion. Keep these decorative objects away from direct sunlight and damp environments.
Were these chargers used for food?
These decorative objects served entirely as ornamental display pieces in domestic interiors or exhibition spaces. Their large dimensions and intricate wirework made them impractical for daily dining.
Export demand from the late nineteenth century drove the production of these items specifically for Western collectors as decorative art.
How do I tell an earlier piece from a later one?
Pieces from the late Edo period and the 1860s often display heavier bronze or copper foundations with robust, thick wirework delineating the dragon motifs. Later nineteenth-century examples from the 1890s frequently utilise finer silver wire and brighter, varied enamel palettes.
Examining the underside and the weight of the metal helps indicate the approximate production decade.