Lampshade and Base

Location: Japan, probably Nagoya

Materials: the lampshade: plique à jour enamel with silver wire ; the base: copper, silver wire cloisonné enamel, chrome mounts

Dimensions: lampshade height 22.2 cm ; base height 29.5 cm

Accession Number: JAP 56

Other Notes:

For the introduction of plique à jour enamel to Japan see E 41.

In the early years, Japanese craftsmen created works of remarkable delicacy in plique à jour enamel. However, by the 1920s this technical mastery had degenerated and become much cruder. Sometimes it was used as a small element in a design – such as the rim border on a vase by Gonda Hirosuke (JAP 50) – and in other instances as the main feature. Given its translucency, it was particularly suited to lampshades; however, the size of the object increased the risk of cracking during the cooling process.

As the fit of this shade and the base is not exact and, further, the decoration does not appear to have been conceived as a whole, it is probable that these two elements, although of similar period, were combined at a later date.

Bibliography:

Haydn Williams, Enamels of the World: 1700-2000 The Khalili Collections, London 2009, cat. 109, p. 173.