Large pair of lacquer cloisonne vases on porcelain, Japan Meiji period

Large pair of enamel cloisonné on porcelain vases, decorated with birds
and flowers on a bark tree ground. Geometrical borders.
Jiki-shippo is a kind of cloisonné applied on a porcelain body. Pieces using
this technique are rare due to the relatively fragile and delicate surface
technique and also to the fact that is was dicovered around 1885 but had a
relatively short existence due to the difficulty in producing unflawed
specimen in manufacture.
The other name of the technique used for those vases is Nuri shippo, A
Jikki shippo technique where lacquer is used instead of enamel.
The process of making this type of cloisonné is complex, starting with the
porcelain base ( coming mainly from Arita) formed into different shapes, to
which flat copper wires are then affixed with vegetal glue, in decorative
patterns after an original drawing.
Lacquer of different colors is then applied to fill the cloisonné. Ground
mother of pearl can be also used.
The lacquer of the background body is then worked to simulate a rough,
natural, tree like surface. It s why cloisonné on porcelain of this type
are often called "Tree Bark".cloisonné or Totai shippo.

Because the difficulty of the technique example of jikki shippo are rather
small in size. The size of these is unusual.
50x25cm
Japan, Meiji period.