7/14/2018

The Finer Points Of Japanese Cloisonne

By Dennis Graham


The thing about beauty is in the eye of the beholder. The thing is, only humankind has the eyes necessary to see it. Most other animals are attracted to their mates by smell, by pheromones. But humans are visual in nature. They see the beauty instead of smelling it. There is no denying that humanity is able to appreciate visual beauty. Now, this is not something that is unique to one culture or one country. In fact, this is something that is universal across the whole spectrum of humankind. But the way it is expressed can have a number of distinctions. Take for example Japanese cloisonne.

Cloisonne is a variant of art. The term originates from France. However, the most well known examples come from places like China and Japan, both of which are rather far from France.

Its history in Japan begins in the Meiji era. Back then, the samurai, formerly members of the ruling class akin to the knights of Europe, had fallen far from its pedestal. Many of them were living from paycheck to paycheck, literally since most of their income was a meager subsidy. But one of them decided to do it, through artistic methods. So that samurai then grabbed some enamel from China, and then took the whole thing apart, learning the means through which it was fabricated. Then that samurai started making things of their own and teaching others, leading a boom in the industry and for the country to become a top exporter when it reopened to outside trade less than two decades later.

Cloisonne is used for one thing. That would be to make what is dull bright. See, most plates and bowls are plain, with no decoration about them. True, they serve their purpose well enough with any such frivolity. But it would not hurt to look good while also being practical.

It is life a coloring book. First, thin wires are used to create the outlines. Then enamel paste is applied for color. Then the whole thing is hit with a little bit of heat then with some polish to make all shiny and pretty.

There are still ways for it to be used in the modern day. For example, since the process can be very time consuming, it can be therapeutic. Any person who engages in it is going to have to block the whole world out and focus on it completely.

There are going to be some supplies that are needed. First will be the copper bowl or dish or plate or jar. Then some wires. Then some enamel, because the whole thing needs some coloring otherwise there would be no point to it.

There is going to be quite a bit of time expended on the activity. Anyone who wants to do this needs to be sure. Because it will not get done in a matter of seconds. It will take quite a while.

The world used to be empty. But then mankind showed up and saw all the vibrancy around it. So it put stone to cave wall and started making art.




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