West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1886-02-05
CLOISONNE WARE.
Visit to the shop of Famous Japan
ESQ ManufA ctnrcr.

Visit to the shop oT a Famous Japan
csc Manufacturer.
There are few persons probably who
are not familiar with the bright blue
vases and plates decorated with birds
and blossoms which culivcn the vim
dowS of dealers in Oriental goods and
artistic ten merchants The number
possibly is much greater of persons
who are unaware, or only impcrgcctN
aware, of the processes of which clQt-
some onamrl~ are the results. and
which have tor many generations. since
the introduction of the art from China,
formed one OF the principal artistic in-
duStrie~ OF Japan. UninvcpUvo thcm-
selves thc Japanese posses, in a sinyu-
lar dcgrc" the faculty of pcrtrctiug the
artS winch they have acquired from
other nations. UnwcaNmy aS~iduitN.
combiucd with oNucmc dclicacy of
touch render them unrivalcd as work
men in the management and clabora-
tlun of detail. Their PAINTINGS ON
porcelain, executed with microscopic
mlnutcncSs and accuracy. and the fine
intricaCN of their nlaid and ovcrlaid
metal work, are sufficient proof, of
their power i'm thi, line But If amy
doubt still existed it would bc speedily
dl-slpatcd 10y visit TO % Workshop
whore c'OtSORUD il being made, aud AN
inspection of the processes involved in
its manufacture The greatest hvmy
maker of c'ON0hH, i'm Japan. perhaps
I'M the world also. j. one Namikayyn,
who residcs i'm Kiut0, the old capital of
the Mikudo- \ noblcmau bv birth.
he suffered iu the lroublou- times which
accompanied the overthrow of the sho-
gun and, like many OF his compccr,,
had recourse to trade u- 20 means Ol
livelihood, without i'm any way losing
caste. Tie has established u reputation
as the Inst ri0NOHlt. manufacturer ot
the day, and his wares fetch from the
dealer, whatever price hc chooses to
set upon them. His courtesy to visitors
ls extreme, and hC seems far more amy
lous Co show them over IN, establish
mcnt than TO sell them his good
In "a clean, airy apartment. whore
the light comes i'm softly through the
paper walls, the workers, men and
women, can bc seen at their tasks. ON
the surface OF the object. generally Of
copper which is to be cnamclcd, The
design la worked out with tiny metal
illlctS, like ilattcncd wires, OF VARYING
lengths and shapes These are fa--
tened ON with strong glue and form
the CiOtSOU&, or partitions, which are
10 separate the differently colorcd cu-
amcls This part of the work seems OF
almost maddcning nicely, and must
require immense Calmnc-. of nerves
and stcadiucss of hand The design
having been thus fixed the cnumels are
introduced between the cloisOuS. Ina the
form of "A dry paste, by means of dimin-
utive chopsticks. The whole is then
baked, after which the various little
cracks and crcviccs 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, uu-
til the surface is uniform and without
llaw, though as yet rough and lustcr-
less. The polishing is done with
stone. and is a long and tedious opera
ilOn, occupying several months IN the
case of article. of amy size The effect
of the process is TO grind down the in
equalities OF the enamcled surface, un-
til the design i. left clear and indcliblc.
outlined by the ciDiSOR2, and with
fine vitrcOus luster
IL is obvious that wares which re-
quire so much time and skill i'm their
manufacture should command u hi1h
price and very high accordingly are
the prices for good work Inferior
cio'SonHe can bc bought cheap enough.
but It's purchase is not to be recon-
mended; for besides flaws i'm the work
manship, which are apparent at once,
the cOlOring Of The enamel is apt 10
fade Ol course in order 10 distinguish
good work from bad il is necessary. a.
IN everything else, to be something Of
cOnnOisseur; and especially difficult
IL is TO tell coloring which will be dur
able from that which viii prove tran
sicnt With regard to the blue color
which 50 alton forms the back ground
Of clOisOHHe wares, IL is important that
this should be of the right shade, a.
there arc blues OF many kinds besides
the pure turquoise tint that Is 10 be-
sought after The amount Of dccOra-
tion. of course, is one Of the cOnsidera-
tons TO be taken into account i'm de-
termining the value Of the article: but
this must not bc too exclusively relied
upon, as II not unfrequently happens
that a great deal of labor D. expended
upon .ornamentagon which is intended
20 conceal other defects. and thus thc
best work 4, often tho simplest a
background introduced and made
speciality of by Namikawa is composed
Of transparent blood-colorcd enamel.
dotted with flakes Of on opaque white
color Another maker living 40 YOko-
homa insert among his cnamcls small
pieces Of gOld-stOnc and other artists
have different specialize OF q similar
kind Antique ciotsOunc is, as rule.
much discOlOrcd and b. for decorative
purposes, OF little value; time viii show
whether the works of the famous mod
ern makers are tO prove more durable
PM MN Guzeu,