The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1886-01-27
CLOiSONNE WARE.
4 visit to the Shop - . Famous Japan.
zee Manufacturer.


4 visit to the shop - . Famous Japan.
sse Manufacturer.
There are few person. probably who |
sts NOT familiar with the bright blue
vaaes md plates decorated with birds
a1d blossoms which 6nnvenl the win
dows Of dealers in OsCptals Foods and
artistic tea merchants. IL number
possibly is much greatSf Of persons
Who are unaware, or only imperfectly
aware, of the processes of which cloi.
sonne enamels are the results, and
which have for many generations, since
the Introduction of the, art from China,
formed one of the principal artistic in
dustries OF Japan. Uninventive them
Aelves, the Japanese possess in asingu--
lar degree the faculty 81 perfecAng The
arts which they have acquired from
other nations. Unwcarying assiduity,
combined with extreme sdelicscy of
touch, render them unrivaled as work.
men in the management and elabora-
ton Of detail. Their paintings on
porcelain executed, with microscopic
minuteness and accuracy, and the fine
intricacy OF their inlaid and overlaid
metal work, are sufficient proofs of
their power in this line. But II any
doubt still existed it would be speedily
dissipated by q visit to a workshop
where clotsonne'is being made, and an
inspections of the processes involved In
its, manufacture. The greatest living
maker Of cl0isonne in Japan, perhaps
in, the world also, is one Namikawa,
who resides in Kioto, the old capital of
the Mikados, y A nobleman by birth.
he suffered in the troublous times which
accompanied the overthrow Of the sho-
gun, and, like many Of his conhpeers,
had recourse to trade 'as a means Of
livelihood, without in any way losing
caste. He has established reputation
as the first cloiso,ane manufacturer OF
the day, and his wares fetch from the
dealers Whatever price he chooses to
Get upon them. His courtesy TO visitors
is extreme, and he seems far more anx-
lous to show them over his establish
ment than to sell them his goods. o.
In . clean, airy apartment, where.
the light comes in softly through the
paper walls, the workers, men and
women, can be seen at their tasks. On
the surface Of the object, generally Of
copper, which is TO, be enameled, the
design Is worked ont with tiny metal
fillets, like flattened wires, OF varying
lengths and shapes. These are fas-
tened on with q strong glue, and form
the cloiso,as, or partitions, which are
to separate the differently colored en-.
amels. This part of the work seems Of
almost maddening nicely, and must
require immense calmness of nerves
and steadiness Of hand. The design
having been thus fixed the enamels are
introduced between the cloiso,'s, in the
form Of dry paste, by means Of dimin-
utive chopsticks. The whole is then
baked, after which the various little
cracks and crevices which appear in the
fused enamel are filled with fresh
paste, and the article again placed in the
oven. In the superior work this pro-
cess is repeated again and again, un-
til the surface is uniform and without
flaw, though as yet rough and luster-
less. The polishing is done with a
stone, and Is long and tedious opera
ton, occupying several months in the
case of articles of any size. The effect
of the process is to grind down the in
equalities of the enameled surface, un-
til the design is left clear and indelible,
outlined by the cloisons, and with a
fine vitreons luster. t, .I
II is obvious that wares which re-
quire 90 much time and skill in their
manufacture should command q high
price; and very high accordingly are
the prices for good work. Inferior
cloisonne can be bought cheap enough,
but its purchase is not to be recon-
mended; for, besides flaws in the work
manship, which are apparent at once,
the coloring Of the enamel is apt ia
fade. Of course, in order to distinguish
good work from bad it is necessary, az
in everything else, to be something Of
a connOisseur; and especially difficult
it is to tell coloring which will be dur.
able from that which will prove tran.
sient. With regard to the blue color
which so aften forms the background
of cloisonne wares, it is important tina,
this should be Of the right shade, al
there are blues of many Kinds besides
the pure turquoise tint that is to bt
sought after. The amount OF decora
ton, of course, is one Of the considers
lions to be taken into account In de
.crmin;ng the value Of the article; bu
this must not be too exclusively relied
upon, as it not unfrequently happen!
that q great deal of labor is expended
upon ornamentation which is intended
to conceal other defects, and thus TIN
best work is often the simplest.
background introduced and made {
specially Of by Namikawa is composed
Of transparent blood-colored enamel
dotted with flakes of an opaque whit
color. Another maker living at Yoke
homa inserts among his enamels small
pieces of gold-stone; and other artist
have different specialties of simila
kind. Antique cloisonne is, as rule
much discol0red, and is for decorative
purposes, Of little value; time will sho,
, whether the works of the famous mod
, ern makers are to prove more durable
Pail Mall Gazette. fH
A Thi6ETAN STUDENT.
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