Japanese. <em>Plate</em>, 19th century. Metal with cloisonne decoration, 1 1/4 x 12 in. (3.2 x 30.5 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Mrs. William E. S. Griswold in memory of her father, John Sloane, 41.980.47. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, CUR.41.980.47.jpg)

Japanese. Plate, 19th century. Metal with cloisonne decoration, 1 1/4 x 12 in. (3.2 x 30.5 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Mrs. William E. S. Griswold in memory of her father, John Sloane, 41.980.47. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, CUR.41.980.47.jpg)

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Was the conception of this depiction of Fujin influenced by Greek myths of wind gods like Zephyr?

Good question but I don’t believe so. Fujin ties into Shinto beliefs. However, it is interesting that so many cultures have personifications of wind! In our collection we also have figures of the Egyptian god Shu and the Aztec deity Ehecatl.

When was cloisonné as a medium introduced in the East? How did cloisonné travel north to Nordic countries?

Cloisonné was developed in the Mediterranean ca. 1500 BCE and traveled to China on the Silk Road in the 10th century CE. Although Chinese cloisonné enamels were highly valued in Japan, it was not until the late 16th century that cloisonné enamels became widely produced in Japan. For much of history North Sea trade connected Scandinavia with the rest of Europe (and ultimately the world).

Why is the plate cut in half?

The image represents Fujin, the Japanese Shinto god of wind. Japanese artists have been known to cut the images on plates in half, as you said. Notice how enamel has been applied to the surface in different ways. The colors in the background of the top half blend together like an ink painting; there aren't sharp lines dividing the different colors. This Japanese style of enamel contrasts sharply with the lower half of the plate which has a harder edged application, more typical of the Chinese enameling tradition.

Is it significant that the muscles of the demon on one of the ancient Japanese plates look like clouds?

Well since the figure pictured is Fujin, the Japanese god of wind, his appearance definitely relates to the sky and, by extension, clouds!

Plate

Decorative Arts and Design

The top half of this fanciful plate depicts Fujin, the Japanese god of wind. He slings his heavy bag of wind over his muscled shoulders on a background of swirling air. The depiction of Fujin represents the pictorial, almost painterly, use of the cloisonné medium that was favored in nineteenth-century Japan. However, the lower section of the plate makes direct reference to the Chinese cloisonné tradition, with repeated patterns of birds and leaves against the popular turquoise ground. This plate is a rare example of the documented use of such Japanese imports in an American interior—used by Herter Brothers in the interior of the Fifth Avenue house of John Sloane in 1882.

CULTURE Japanese

MEDIUM Metal with cloisonne decoration

Place Made: Japan

DATES 19th century

DIMENSIONS 1 1/4 x 12 in. (3.2 x 30.5 cm) (show scale)

COLLECTIONS Decorative Arts and Design

ACCESSION NUMBER 41.980.47

CREDIT LINE Gift of Mrs. William E. S. Griswold in memory of her father, John Sloane

CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION Plaque, circular shape, cloisonne enamel, interior shows a demon carrying a bag also birds and leaves are shown. Exterior shows typical scrolls and rosettes mostly on turquoise blue ground.

EXHIBITIONS

Infinite Blue

MUSEUM LOCATION This item is not on view

CAPTION Japanese. Plate, 19th century. Metal with cloisonne decoration, 1 1/4 x 12 in. (3.2 x 30.5 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Mrs. William E. S. Griswold in memory of her father, John Sloane, 41.980.47. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, CUR.41.980.47.jpg)

IMAGE overall, CUR.41.980.47.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph, 2012

"CUR" at the beginning of an image file name means that the image was created by a curatorial staff member. These study images may be digital point-and-shoot photographs, when we don\'t yet have high-quality studio photography, or they may be scans of older negatives, slides, or photographic prints, providing historical documentation of the object.

RIGHTS STATEMENT Creative Commons-BY

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