Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1886-02-04
CLOISONNE WARE.
A Visit to the Shop of Famous Japan
ese Manufa cturer.

ese manufacturer.
There are few persons probably who
are not familiar with the bright blue
vases and plates decorated with birds
and blossoms which enliven the win
dows of dealers in Oriental goods and
artistic tea merchants. The number
possibly is much greater of persons
who are unaware, or only imperfectly
aware, of the processes of which cloi-
some 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
selves, the Japanese possess in singu-
lar degree the faculty of perfecting the
arts which they have acquired from
other nations. Unwearying assiduity,
combined with extreme delicacy 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 if any
doubt still existed it would be speedily
dissipated by a visit to a workshop
where cloiSOnne is being made, and an
inspection of the processes involved in
its manufacture. The greatest living
maker Of cIOiSonne in ,Japan nerhaOs
in the world also, is one Namikawa,
who resides in Kioto, the old capital OF
the Mikados. A nobleman by birth,
he suffered IN the troublous times which
accompanied the overthrow OF. the sho-
gun, and, like many OF his compeers,
had recourse to trade as means OF
livelihood, without in any way losing
caste. He has established reputation
as the first ctotson1'e manufacturer OF
the day, and his wares fetch from the
dealers whatever price he chooses to
set 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.
In a 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 out with tiny meta
1illets, like tlattened wires, OF varying
lengths and shapes. These are fas
tened on with strong glue, and form
| tho pIoIoO11c nartItInnc which
to separate the differently colored en-
amels. This part OF the work seems o
almost maddening nicely, and mus
require immense calmness OF nerves
and steadiness OF hand. The deslgr
having been thus fixed the enamels arr
introduced between the clotsons, in th'
form OF dry paste, by means OF dimin
utive chopsticks, The whole is thel
baked, after which the various littl
cracks and crevices which appear'in tn,
fused enamel are filled with fresl
paste, and the article again placed in tn
oven. In the superior work this pro
cess is repeated again and again, un
til the surface is uniform and withou
flaw, though as yet rough and luster
less. The polishing is done with
stone, and is long and tedious opera
ton, occupying several months in tn
case OF articles OF any size. The effec
OF the process is to grind down the in
equalitles of the enameled surface, un
til the design is left clear and indelible
outlined by the ctotSons, and with
fine vitreous luster.
1t is obvious that wares which re
quire so much time and skill in thel
manufacture should command big
price; and very high accordingly ar
the prices for good work. lnterlo
cto,S0nne 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
fade. Of course, in order to distinguis
good work from bad it is necessary, q
in everything else, to be something {
a connoisscur; and especially ditficu
it is to tell coloring which will be dul
able from that which will prove trar
sient. With regard to the blue colo
which so aften forms the backgroun
of ctotsonne wares, it is important ths