Inlaid Cloisonne Flower Vase

Product Story

General Product Information

This vase is from Wadokan, the only workshop in Kyoto that produces inlaid cloisonne enamel ware.
The retro-inspired vase matches any room.

In Kyoto, cast bronze ware with cloisonne glaze has long been called mud cloisonne (in recent years, it has also been called inlaying cloisonne). Mud cloisonne enamel ware has many advantages: it can be made in large sizes, it can be colored with cloisonne enamel only where necessary, there is no need to glaze the inner surface, and the base material is durable. Cloisonne ware was produced in large quantities mainly for export from the Meiji period (1868-1912), and continued to be made until around 1985.

The entire manufacturing process was done by hand, requiring a great deal of skill, and cloisonne enamel ware was never produced outside of Kyoto, where the division of labor was well organized.

After the war, cloisonne enamel ware production in Kyoto resumed, but there were no more workshops specializing in cloisonne enamel ware coloring. Wadokan handles the entire process of cloisonne glaze production and coloring, from design to completion.

Craftsman Story

Craftsman Profile

Wadokan

Wadokan was founded in 1909 as a manufacturer of cloisonne enamel ware. Cloisonne enamel ware techniques can be roughly divided into two types: inlaying cloisonne and wired cloisonne. In inlaying cloisonné, the boundary lines that demarcate the glaze are made by casting, while in wired cloisonné, silver wire is welded to the glaze. Most modern cloisonne enamel works are made by the wired method, and it seems that only Wadokan continues to produce zogan cloisonne enamel works today.

Craftsman Passion

Inheriting Traditional Techniques

Most modern cloisonne enamel works are wired, and Wadokan is the only company that continues to produce inlaying cloisonne enamel works today.
Wadokan's Zogan cloisonne enamel ware uses an opaque glaze, which produces an opaque, matte color after firing.
The classic design of this product gives a sense of time-honored tradition.

Customer Voice

Due to the market structure (link for full articles are attached bottom), craftsman have not known who the customer is and how customer reacts to their work. We made a “Message to Craftsman” box at purchase page. We will deliver all message to every craftsman. Our review will be also shared to craftsman so please leave your comment and evaluation on review section!

Income for Craftsman: Craftsman get only less than 10% of selling price?

As written above, craftsman have not controlled last phase of sales channel that resulting in selling price is set by third-party without craftsman’s recognition. There are some cases that only less than 10% of selling price is given to craftsman. We promise with our customer / craftsman that we offer the fair trade with craftsmen in our contract!

We made an article about above problem and our challenge. Please have a read from below link.
Current state of the Crafts Market / Benefits brought by Suigenkyo

Width : 13.5cm
Height : 24cm
Depth : 13.5cm
Weight : 2,200g

Materials

Copper alloy

Caution

If this item is not in stock, it will take about two months to manufacture.