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Subject:Cloisonne trinket box
Posted By: Joseph howarth Mon, May 07, 2018 IP: 213.205.242.228

Hello all.

I am hoping for some help trying to age a cloisonne trinket box I have come into possession of.
I believe it is Chinese and not Japanese due to the upside down clover motif that surrounds the base of the box.
There doesn't appear to be any makers mark or country of origin stamped on it so maybe it had a sticker when it was produced meaning it was mass produced. However I have read that mass produced pieces are lumpy and the wire petrudes noticibly. To me however it feels smooth to the touch which I believe means it isn't mass produced.
I have never held a cloisonne piece before so it could be of poor quality and I'd never know.
The underside is covered in enamel from what I have read both mass produced and single items would be like this due to the heating process as a method to stop the bottom warping.
The only other avenue I haven't managed to find any info on is the subject matter, as I can't find a list online stating from what period certain designs relate to.
As previously mentioned I'm a co.plete beginner to cloisonne so any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Joe

Subject:Re: Cloisonne trinket box
Posted By: Joseph Howarth Tue, May 08, 2018

For some reason the pictures didn't upload here it is.



Subject:Re: Cloisonne trinket box
Posted By: Lawrence Lewis Wed, May 09, 2018

Hello - your box is not made with the cloisonne technique but with a method known as champleve. The difference being that in cloisonne the enamels are enclosed by applied wires whereas in champleve the solid surface is either carved, etched or cast to form hollows that are then filled with enamel and fired.



Subject:Re: Cloisonne trinket box
Posted By: Joseph Howarth Sat, May 12, 2018

Hi, thanks for your response. Interested to know how you can tell the difference just for my own reference going forward.

Subject:Re: Cloisonne trinket box
Posted By: Lawrence Lewis Sat, May 12, 2018

Your best bet to see the differences is to keep your little trinket box as a study piece; it is known to be champleve. Next time you're out a a car boot sale, antique fair etc, buy a piece of damaged cloisonne - usually damaged pieces go for a song.

Notice that the wires in the cloisonne example are much thinner than what you have and that they actually look like wires with joins and seams here and there. Comparing both pieces you will see the difference.

Subject:Re: Cloisonne trinket box
Posted By: Bill H Wed, May 09, 2018

The box is Chinese, and while you don't give any information on size, I'm guessing it's a toothpick container for table use. I've seen items like it as part of a set with napkin rings and small open salt dishes. Definitely mass-produced, as every gift shop in Hong Kong and elsewhere in Asia had them when I was there in the late 20th century. Meanwhile here's another one, different colors but same pattern.

Best regards,

Bill H.





URL Title :Cloisonne Holder


Subject:Re: Cloisonne trinket box
Posted By: Joseph Howarth Sat, May 12, 2018

Hi Bill.

Thanks for the information. So for dating purposes are you saying it's around 20 years old. With a resale value below £10.
Thanks
Joe

Subject:Re: Cloisonne trinket box
Posted By: Bill H Sat, May 12, 2018

I'd say they date between the 3rd-4th quarters of the 20th century. I've seen them priced between US$5.00-10.00 at estate liquidations. You might be able to find current prices by searching eBay for "cloisonné toothpick holder".

Bill H.

Subject:Chinese champleve 1950-70s
Posted By: beadiste Thu, May 10, 2018

More information and similar examples here:

http://www.beadiste.com/2015/08/puzzling-evidence-gu-yi-zhai-cang-mark.html

Subject:Re: Chinese champleve 1950-70s
Posted By: Joseph Howarth Sat, May 12, 2018

Thanks for the information


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