An Unusual Japanese Plique a Jour Silver 'Maple Leaves' Bowl, Attributed to Namikawa Yasuyuki

Of lobed hemispherical form on short circular foot, pierced with stylized water ripples and maple leaves, enclosing colorful translucent enamels; underside with stamped mark.
Note:
Namikawa Yasuyuki is best known as a leading light and master of the workshop which created some of the finest Japanese cloisonne of the Meiji period. These works are of great intricacy, the highest quality and are highly desirable. Plique a Jour works from the Namikawa studio are rare, the best known example is the extraordinary "Chrysanthemum Blossoms in Waves" bowl exhibited in the 1900 Paris Exposition Universelle, and acquired by Henry Walters, now exhibited in the Walter's Collection, Baltimore Maryland (#44.546). The stamped mark on the present bowl is unusual, as typical studio marks are engraved on metal plates and applied to pieces. The mark is closely related to that illustrated in The Studio, June 1911, Professor Jiro Harada, "Japanese Art and Artist's of To-Day-Cloisonne Enamels.", p. 281, as illustrated in Barry Davies Oriental Art, "Japanese Enamels of the Golden Age", London, 1990.

Diameter 9 in., 22.8 cm.

Property from the Estate of Henry V. and Carol K. Nickel.

This lot is located in New York.

Provenance:

Updated 9/8/2025

Normar Oriental Art, Inc, San Francisco, California.

Property from the Estate of Henry V. and Carol K. Nickel, acquired from the above, circa August 28, 1987.

Generally good attractive visual condition; Scattered pits and scratches to silver, particularly to interior bottom; a few minor scattered losses and fractures to enamels.

Additional photos are updated before the sale via this link (asian.smugmug.com/Sale-6418). Please read the above or contact us to request a complete condition report.
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Annie Wu

Senior Vice President, Head of Department, Asian Art

[email protected]312.447.3260

Ms. Wu joined the firm in 2014, after working as a specialist in the Asian Works of Art Department of an East Coast auction house. She researches, appraises, and sells Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Indian, and South East Asian works of art, including jades, bronzes, ceramics, paintings, armor, and furniture. Throughout her career, Ms. Wu has achieved record prices for several prominent estates and collections, including the Estate of Frank G. Mertes, Sr., Winona, Minnesota; the Chinese Painting Collection of Ms. Yuan Jiaying and Mr. Li Guoyuan, Chicago; the Estate of Hisazo Nagatani, Chicago, and the Asian Art Collection deaccessioned from the Strong Museum of Play, Rochester, New York.

Asian Works of Art

An Unusual Japanese Plique a Jour Silver 'Maple Leaves' Bowl, Attributed to Namikawa Yasuyuki

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**An Unusual Japanese Plique a Jour Silver 'Maple Leaves' Bowl, Attributed to Namikawa Yasuyuki**