Page 66 - Christies Japanese and Korean Art Sept 22 2020 NYC

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A CLOISONNÉ ENAMEL INCENSE BURNER
MEIJI PERIOD (LATE 19TH CENTURY), SIGNED KYOTO
NAMIKAWA (WORKSHOP OF NAMIKAWA YASUYUKI; 1845-1927)
The lozenge-form body decorated in polychrome enamels and
silver wires, designed with panels of various geometric patterns
and stylized flower motifs, the shoulder designed with floret
pattern and stylized lotus petals, applied with pierced silver lid
and base set on six bracket feet, signature on base
3√ in. (9.8 cm.) high
$100,000-150,000

Among the remarkable Japanese masters of the art of cloisonné
enameling, Namikawa Yasuyuki stands out. Namikawa
represented Japan in a number of international expositions,
winning prizes at the International Exhibition, Philadelphia,
celebrating America's Centennial in 1876, and the Exposition
Universelle, Paris, in 1900. Together with the unrelated
Namikawa Sosuke, Yasuyuki was appointed Artist to the
Imperial Household (Teishitsu gigeiin), the two enamelers
so honored. This exquisite incense burner demonstrates the
delicacy of design and skill of wirework and enameling for
which the Namikawa workshop was and is justly famous.
The design shown on the present work is extremely rare
compare to other works by the artist. The twelve-sided
cloisonné enamel incense burner which was exhibited and
won a gold medal at the Spring Exhibition of the Kyoto Art
Association in 1896 shows very similar and related geometric
patterns to the present work. (fig.1.)

Fig. 1. The cloisonné enamel incense burner with similar design
illustrated in Nihon Bijutsu Gaho (Japanese Fine Arts Magazine), 1896.
©Tokyo National Research Institute for Cultural Properties