192 - † A SUPERB AND LARGE (46 CM) MIDNIGHT-BLUE-GROUND CLOISONNÉ ENAMEL ‘SPARROWS AMID BLOSSOMING CHRYSANTHEMUMS’ FACETED VASE, ATTRIBUTED TO HAYASHI KODENJI

† A SUPERB AND LARGE (46 CM) MIDNIGHT-BLUE-GROUND CLOISONNÉ ENAMEL ‘SPARROWS AMID BLOSSOMING CHRYSANTHEMUMS’ FACETED VASE, ATTRIBUTED TO HAYASHI KODENJI Japan, late 19th century, Meiji period (1868-1912) Masterfully crafted, the imposing faceted baluster body supported on a gently tapering foot and rising through broad, rounded shoulders to a waisted neck with a prominently thickened, everted rim, the mouth fitted with a gilt-metal liner. The exterior exquisitely decorated in vibrant polychrome enamels outlined in fine silver wire against a lustrous midnight-blue ground, depicting a luxuriant profusion of blossoming chrysanthemums in brilliant white, lavender, pink, orange, and red, interspersed with two sparrows, one perched amid the foliage and the other in flight. The densely clustered flowers are rendered with exceptional precision, their delicately shaded petals and finely detailed foliage creating remarkable depth and naturalism. The composition framed by finely patterned bands of colorful lappets around the neck and foot. Particularly noteworthy is the unusually broad, thickened rim, intricately decorated with minute white flowerheads against a spiral-patterned ground, a distinctive feature associated with the works of Hayashi Kodenji and his workshop, further supporting the attribution. The silver mount around the foot stamped jungin [pure silver]. HEIGHT 46.2 cm WEIGHT 3.7 kg Condition: Pristine condition, with no evidence of damage or restoration under UV light, exceptionally rare for wares of this size. Only very minor expected wear to the metal mounts. Hayashi Kodenji (1831-1915) was a pivotal figure in the history of cloisonné enameling and instrumental in the formation and leadership of the Shippo-cho enamelers guild, and it is probable that he worked for the Nagoya-based Shippo Kaisha. As well as being an innovative enameler, he was also an astute businessman. Stories are told that in his early days he walked from Nagoya to Yokohama to sell his wares at a time when there was a long-standing prohibition on selling copper (which included the body of cloisonné objects). He worked with his son, Kodenji II, for over 40 years and it is often difficult to distinguish the work of the two makers. He exhibited and won prizes at numerous international exhibitions, including Nuremberg 1885 (silver), Paris 1889 (silver), and St. Louis 1904 (gold). In 1912, Glendining of London auctioned over 300 'Japanese cloisonné enamels from the Glasgow Exhibition offered for sale by Mr. K. Hayashi of Nagoya'. Auction comparison: Compare a closely related midnight-blue-ground cloisonné enamel hexagonal vase, decorated with sparrows among flowering chrysanthemums, also unsigned and possibly attributable to the workshop of Hayashi Kodenji, dated to the Meiji period, 36.8 cm high, at Bonhams, Meiji Modern Design, 11 June 2003, London, lot 451 (sold for GBP 5,019 or approx. EUR 11,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing). Compare a related smaller cloisonné enamel vase, signed Dai Nihon Hayashi Kodenji zo, decorated with blossoming cherry, chrysanthemums, and other flowers against a deep-blue ground, with a similarly broad rim, dated to the late 19th century, Meiji period, 19 cm high, at Sotheby's, Masters of Enamel: The Collection of John and Muriel Okladek, 3 November 2021, London, lot 61 (sold for GBP 11,340 or approx. EUR 16,300 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing). 13% VAT will be added to the hammer price additional to the buyer's premium - only for buyers within the EU.