A SUPERB MINIATURE CLOISONNÉ ENAMEL BOX AND COVER

A SUPERB MINIATURE CLOISONNÉ ENAMEL BOX AND COVER Attributed to the workshop of Namikawa Yasuyuki, unsigned Japan, late 19th century, Meiji period (1868-1912) The silver-mounted octagonal box with a faceted cover, masterfully worked with polychrome enamels and silver wire, depicting various stylized floral diapered patterns arranged in neatly enameled panels of alternating color. The lid with a central octagonal reserve depicting a majestic phoenix showing all the various colored enamels used throughout the design of the box, against a bright yellow ground. SIZE 4 x 3.8 x 3.5 cm WEIGHT 91 g Condition: Very good condition with minor old wear. The box: Perfect condition. The lid: Minuscule hairlines to the edge of two panels. One panel with two microscopic, restored areas, all of which is only noticeable under strong UV-light and magnification. [Please request additional images made under UV-light from us]. Provenance: US private collection. The box and cover are designed in a clever way so that the lid can only be fitted on the box when the panels of the same color are matched. Namikawa Yasuyuki (1845-1927) is widely regarded as one of the greatest cloisonné makers of all time. He won prizes at the Philadelphia World Fair of 1876, then at the Paris World Fair of 1878, and later at the 1889 Paris Fair. He was also honored at the series of National Industrial Expositions which was instituted in 1877. He won altogether 31 prizes at expositions both at home and abroad. In 1896 together with the unrelated Namikawa Sosuke, Yasuyuki was appointed as a Teishitsu Gigeiin, or ‘Imperial Artist’, the only two cloisonné makers to be so honored. Auction comparison: Compare to a very similar miniature box and cover by Namikawa Yasuyuki, yet arguably considerably less fine than the present example, sold at Christie’s, Japanese and Korean Art, 18 September 2013, New York, lot 776 (sold for 21,250 USD).