Ando Jubei (安藤重兵衛), Japanese, 1876–1953

A Kodai Horyumon Vase (古代鳳龍紋七宝花瓶) 

Meiji Era (1868-1912) or Taisho Era (1912-1926) 

About the work

A finely executed cloisonné enamel vase by the celebrated Japanese enamel master Andō Jūbei. The elegant baluster form is richly decorated with stylized phoenix and dragon motifs rendered in vibrant enamels of deep green, red, blue, and gold against a dark ground. Intricate foliate scrollwork and jewel-like ornamentation encircle the shoulder and body, creating a sophisticated decorative rhythm inspired by ancient East Asian designs.

The lustrous surface and exceptionally precise wirework exemplify the technical excellence for which Andō Jūbei became internationally renowned during the late Meiji and Taishō periods. The refined composition balances opulence with elegance, reflecting the influence of both traditional Japanese aesthetics and the global decorative arts movement of the era.

Original signed tomobako (wooden storage box) included.

Dimensions

15.6cm(h) x 7.3cm(w)

Footnote

Andō Jūbei (安藤重兵衛, 1876–1953) was one of the most important Japanese cloisonné artists of the Meiji and Taishō periods and a leading figure in Nagoya’s enameling industry alongside Hayashi Kodenji. Together with Namikawa Yasuyuki and Namikawa Sōsuke, he is regarded as one of the three masters whose technical innovations defined the “Golden Age” of Japanese cloisonné in the late nineteenth century. Renowned for his exquisitely crafted presentation wares commissioned by the Imperial Household for foreign dignitaries, Andō exhibited internationally, including at the Japan–British Exhibition of 1910. His works are held in major museum collections worldwide, and the Andō Cloisonné Company continues his legacy today.