This Chinese cloisonné enamel vase reveals a superb tangle of flowering branches. The blue petals, sometimes light, sometimes deep, create a vibrant contrast against a white background traversed by delicate golden arabesques. In the midst of the flowers, a delicate butterfly seems suspended in flight, adding poetry and movement to the scene.
The base is brass, and the underside of the vase is also decorated with cloisonné in a solid turquoise color. The piece has a few micro-scratches, but its overall condition is very good.
The cloisonné technique, which flourished in China in the 16th century and developed in Japan in the 19th century, consists of decorating a metal support with glass pastes baked at high temperature.
In the traditional process, called yûsen shippô, very fine wires of gold, silver or copper are used, inside which the colored enamels are inserted. The welded filigree forms a complex pattern of small cells (partitions). The craftsman conceptualizes a floral, geometric, or scenic design, then draws upon his experience, imagination, and aesthetic vision to create this work.
The enamel colors are applied and fired in layers until the piece reaches a uniform thickness. The final sanding smooths the surface and reveals a luminous work, then the gilding increases its resistance to time.
Touch: smooth
Materials: brass, polychrome enamels
Height: 21 cm
Base diameter: 6.7 cm - Body: 12 cm
Origin: China
