A GOOD JAPANESE CLOISONNE JAR AND COVER BY NAMIKAWA SŌSUKE (1847–1910)

A GOOD JAPANESE CLOISONNE JAR AND COVER BY NAMIKAWA SŌSUKE (1847–1910)
MEIJI ERA, 19TH/20TH CENTURY

The ovoid body with a flat cover, delicately decorated with small butterflies fluttering amongst sprays of pink and white chrysanthemum, on an unusual creamy-pink ground; the inside gilded and the base with the cloisonné mark for Namikawa Sōsuke, 7.5cm. (2)

Namikawa Sōsuke (1847-1910) was a preeminent Japanese cloisonné enamel artist celebrated for pioneering the musen (wireless) technique, which eliminated visible metal wires to make the decorative enamelwork resemble detailed paintings. The uncommon combination of the butterflies decoration, the flattened shape and creamy-pink ground makes this piece particularly rare.