A cloisonné enamel vase with sparrows and wisteria | Attributed to Hayashi Kodenji (1831-1915) | Meiji period, late 19th century

Hayashi Kodenji was a pivotal figure in the history of cloisonné enamel manufacturer. He was instrumental in the formation and leadership of the Shippo-cho enamellers guild, and it is probable that he worked for the Nagoya-based Shippo Kaisha. As well as being an innovative enameller he was also an astute businessman. Stories are told that in his early days he walked from Nagoya to Yokohama to sell his wares at a time when there was a long-standing prohibition on selling copper (which included the body of the cloisonné objects). He worked with his son, Kodenji II for over 40 years and it is often hard to differentiate the work of the two makers. He exhibited and won prizes at many international exhibitions: Nuremberg 1885 (silver), Paris 1889 (silver) and St Louis 1904 (gold). In 1912 Glendining of London auctioned over 300 ‘Japanese cloisonné enamels from the Glasgow Exhibition offered for sale by Mr. K Hayashi of Nagoya’.