Large Totai Shippo Vase In Cloisonné Lacquer On Ceramic, Japan Meiji Era

Large vase in cloisonné lacquer (nuri shippo) on ceramic, decorated with birds among lotuses.
Rare in these dimensions: 56 cm high !
Used but very good condition.
Japan, second half of the 19th century.

The technique used to make this type of vase was very complex : the rough ceramic base was glued with copper partitions forming different cells according to a pre-established design. These cells, along with the base, were then filled with lacquer (sometimes with inclusions of metal or mother-of-pearl, as seen here on the Kingfisher heads). On our vase, the base has been reworked and textured to imitate tree bark, a delicate operation that was the source of a good deal of rejects. It is because of this complexity that totai shippo vases were only produced for a short time, and are now highly sought-after when in very good condition.