Exquisite Japanese Cloisonné Enamel Covered Jar with Ivy and Butterflies

A refined and highly elegant Japanese cloisonné enamel covered jar from the Showa period, signed by the Ando Cloisonné Company—renowned for its exceptional technical precision and sophisticated design sensibility.

The surface is decorated with a flowing composition of ivy vines and leaves, rendered in rich translucent green enamels with subtle tonal gradation, accompanied by delicately depicted butterflies in contrasting hues. The composition moves naturally across the body, achieving a painterly softness that reflects the evolution of cloisonné design toward a more fluid and naturalistic aesthetic.

Set against a luminous ivory-white ground, the piece exemplifies one of the most technically challenging aspects of cloisonné production. The successful firing of a clean, stable white enamel surface required exceptional control, as white was historically among the most difficult colors to achieve without imperfections. Its even, uninterrupted clarity here speaks directly to the high level of craftsmanship associated with the Ando workshop.

The decoration is executed in a largely wireless technique, allowing forms to appear continuous and softly modeled, with minimal interruption from metal cloisons. This approach, combined with subtle enamel shading, creates a remarkable sense of depth and movement rarely encountered in more traditionally structured examples.

The jar retains its original domed cover, surmounted by a simple finial, and is further refined with metal mounts at the rim and base, providing both structural integrity and a crisp visual frame to the composition.

Signed examples of this type firmly anchor the piece within Ando workshop production, representing a mature phase of cloisonné artistry in which technical mastery is paired with restraint, clarity, and refined naturalism.

7" high x 6" diameter

Good condition. No damage noted.