Japanese Cloisonné Enamels from the Stephen W. Fisher Collection

The beauty and delicacy of Japanese cloisonné objects have long held a prominent place in the eyes of both Japanese and Western collectors. This exhibition of cloisonné from the collection of Stephen W. Fisher celebrates the masterworks of artisans including Namikawa Yasuyuki, Namikawa Sosuke, and the craftsmen of the Ando cloisonné workshop.

Through aesthetically themed installations, visitors will explore the fine metalwork, painterly enamel application, and creative flair that marks the turn of the twentieth century as the highpoint in the Japanese tradition of decorative enameling. With thorough explanations of the complex techniques and meticulous craftsmanship that went into the making of these exquisite objects, visitors will have the opportunity to marvel at the Japanese dedication to the production of objects of almost limitless beauty.

The vases, trays and boxes produced during the height of the Japanese tradition will be shown to grow out of long-standing Japanese traditions of design and decoration pushed forward by Japan’s embrace of Western lifestyles and the nation’s efforts to assert its worthiness in the international marketplace.

The exhibition is made possible with the support of the E. Rhodes and Leona B. Carpenter Foundation and a generous gift from the members of the Walters Art Museum’s Friends of the Asian Collection. The exhibition’s educational programs are supported by a grant from the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services. The publication of Japanese Cloisonné Enamels: The Stephen W. Fisher Collection has been generously supported by a gift from Tsognie and Douglas Hamilton.