Main differences between Chinese and Japanese cloisonne
Cloisonné are metal objects made with intricate designs and works of art that have been a unique work of art and creativity since ancient times. It is a unique way of designing metal objects with precious stones, glass materials, enamel paints and other decorative objects that make this art an advantage over other craft materials. The decoration of metal objects initially adding compartments to metal objects with gold and silver threads. Once the welding is done, they are finished with enamel paints and then fired in a kiln. This work of art has its existence since ancient times and has been as old as the 13th century BC.
The existence of this artwork has been mainly in Europe, Asia and North America. However, this delicate piece of art has its existence mainly in China and Japan. Although Chinese and Japanese cloisonne are almost similar, there are some differences that will help you buy the right piece of art.
In this article, I will provide you with the common difference between Chinese and Japanese cloisonne.
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1. The simplest and easiest way to tell the difference between Chinese and Japanese cloisonne is to look at the edge and edge of the two metal objects. Chinese cloisonnés are finished products with a soft and shiny turquoise interior. By contrast, Japanese cloisonne has an orange peel texture to the enamel. The Chinese pieces have their edges decorated with Ruyi. Ruyi are colored decorative elements that measure 1 inch wide. They look like an upside down cloverleaf with a dot in the center of each shamrock. However, Japanese cloisonne does not have such wide edges on its metal pieces. Instead, they use fine border decorations that are mostly reddish-brown, blue, or green. These fine decorations are dots that are decorated on the edges of the metal piece.
2. There is a big difference in the birth of cloisonne objects in China and Japan. Chinese cloisonne was well developed and open to trade before Japan. On the contrary, Japan has always kept itself safe and secure from the entire world and therefore developed this art and started trading a few centuries later. Chinese cloisonne began to develop this artwork as early as 1300 and it was gradually adapted by other artists. Japan also initially adopted the Chinese method of decorating metal vases and bowls in the 1830s, and later in the 1870s, they developed their own unique style of creating and finishing the artwork. So, in other words, we can say that the roots of cloisonne lie in China, and then in other countries. However, the Japanese have proven to be an ace in cloisonné objects.
3. Although Japanese cloisonne emerged late, however, they have overtaken China. And from now on, Japanese cloisonne has a greater variety of cloisonne compared to Chinese cloisonne. The most famous types of Japanese cloisonne are Ginbari, Akasuke, and Totai. What is different in the three styles lies in their finish. Totai was covered in a brown tree bark texture, Ginbari in shiny, translucent glazes, and Akasuke in a light red glaze.
4. The difference also lies in the marks or seals of the cloisonne of two countries. Chinese cloisonne was often stamped or marked with brilliant enamel. Sealing was printed between 1897 and 1921 for the export trade and was often encrypted with “made in china” after 1921 and only “china” from 1897 to 1912. By contrast, Japanese cloisonne was not marked nor sealed. This was mainly because Japanese cloisonne was being exported from local customers who did not require any export marking.
5. There is a slight difference in the enamel coating of the cloisonne of the two countries. The bottom of the Chinese cloisonne is coated with enamel to strengthen it for the high heat of the kiln. The enamel coating was done to protect the base from cracking or wrapping from excessive heating. Japanese cloisonne had no such enamel coating and instead were decorated with cloisonne wires with an orange peel texture coating.
6. The designs of the two artworks were also different. Chinese cloisonne was mainly designed and decorated with symmetrical designs that symbolize nature, such as seasonal flowers, Buddhist lotus patterns, or mythical animals such as kara-shishi, winged horses, or phoenixes. Japanese cloisonné used symbols such as the empress or the emperor of Japan. They mostly use asymmetrical designs with a more crowded appearance than Chinese cloisonne. A common design that was used by the two countries was a dragon motif. The only difference in the dragon motif lies in the number of fingers depicted. A Japanese cloisonne featured three toes, while a Chinese cloisonne featured four or five toes.
7. Regarding the gilt and finish of the two cloisonné; Chinese cloisonné uses gold gilding to protect them from heat. Often the surfaces of Chinese cloisonné are glassy and brightly colored. In the case of Japanese cloisonné, all metal objects are not gilded but have a combination of copper, silver and brass threads.
8. Most Japanese cloisonne had unusual shapes and sizes in contrast to Chinese cloisonne which had symmetrical shapes that included an incense burner, vase, and two candle holders.
9. The bodies of the Japanese cloisonne were composed mainly of copper or bronze and the Chinese cloisonne had bodies of bronze. However, copper sheet bodies in Chinese cloisonné were introduced in the early 16th century.
10. Compared with Chinese cloisonne, Japanese cloisonne is more polished and reflects light.
I believe that the more we get to know the difference between Chinese and Japanese cloisonne, the better we can differentiate between the two and gather more knowledge when buying them. Although there is a difference between the two countries, you will find a wide variety of vintage designs and creativity in both pieces of metal.