Japanese Cloisonné

Japanese Cloisonné

　　Japanese Cloisonné is a distinctive product of Japan. It is said to be the "offspring" of Chinese Cloisonné, renowned for its pearl-like radiant luster and highly artistic design. Known as "Shippō-yaki" (七宝焼) in Japanese, which refers to metal enamelware, it is also called Japanese Cloisonné due to its production techniques originating from Chinese Cloisonné.

　　The production process of Shippō-yaki is similar to that of Cloisonné. It involves using metal as the base, shaping fine metal wires into various pattern outlines, soldering them onto the metal body, then applying enamel glazes in colors corresponding to the design, followed by careful firing. Finally, the piece is polished to a shine. The entire process includes over thirty steps, with seven main procedures: base making, wire outlining, soldering, glazing, firing, polishing, and gilding. Among these, the wire outlining and glazing techniques are the most intricate and delicate, while firing and polishing often require multiple repetitions. Enamel comes in a wide range of colors, mainly red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and purple. Generally, single-color Shippō-yaki is relatively rare. However, there is also transparent enamel Shippō-yaki, where transparent enamel glaze is applied over artistically processed metal bases, and after firing, the patterns on the base are revealed through the clear glaze. Shippō-yaki is produced in various regions, but Kyoto is especially famous for its high-quality pieces.

　　Shippō-yaki is not the same as Cloisonné. However, some people mistakenly believe that Shippō-yaki is the Japanese term for Chinese Cloisonné. In reality, Shippō-yaki is not entirely the same as Cloisonné. The difference lies in the fact that Cloisonné is made with opaque enamel, whereas Shippō-yaki features transparent enamel glaze.

　　Shippō-yaki holds a high status among traditional Japanese crafts. For a long time, the Japanese people have regarded it as a top choice for gifts to family and friends.