Masters of Enamel: The Collection of John and Muriel Okladek | Including Further Japanese Works of Art from the Meiji Period, 1868-1912

Masters of Enamel: The Collection of John and Muriel Okladek | Including Further Japanese Works of Art from the Meiji Period, 1868-1912

View full screen - View 1 of Lot 26. A cloisonné enamel covered vase with dragons | Signed on a silver tablet Kyoto Shibata | Meiji period, late 19th century.

Property from the John and Muriel Okladek Collection

A cloisonné enamel covered vase with dragons | Signed on a silver tablet Kyoto Shibata | Meiji period, late 19th century

VAT reduced rate

Lot Closed

November 3, 02:26 PM GMT

Estimate

15,000 - 20,000 GBP

Lot Details

Description

Property from the John and Muriel Okladek Collection

A cloisonné enamel covered vase with dragons 

Signed on a silver tablet Kyoto ShibataMeiji period, late 19th century


the vase of ovoid form with short waisted neck, copper-gilt mounts and domed cover, decorated in various coloured enamels and thicknesses of silver wire on a deep black ground, with two five-clawed dragons, the scales and hair in speckled enamels, the shoulder and cover imitating brocade cloth with a formal band of hanabishi shippo, gilt chrysanthemum (kiku) finial, signed on a silver tablet Kyoto Shibata

13.5 cm., 5¼ in. high

This is perhaps Sozaburo Shibata, the only recorded maker of that name working in Kyoto. Nothing is otherwise known of this enameller and there has been much speculation around the fact that some cloisonné objects that carry the silver tablet signed Kyoto Namikawa seal have designs and wirework that imitate, but do not replicate that of Yasuyuki. There are yet other works that carry a similar silver tablet but with the four characters Kyoto Shibata. Some theories infer that Shibata actually worked for Yasuyuki, others that dealers at the time added Yasuyuki’s silver tablet to works by other makers. Careful examination of the wirework and workmanship of the enamels can usually distinguish between the two makers.