Tebako box with fan and floral design,

ca. 1880

From the mid-nineteenth to the early twentieth century, Japanese cloisonné methods underwent a rapid transition. Artisans began to examine and copy objects imported from China that featured complex thin wire supports and dividers (cloisons), and then to work directly with European artisans. The result was an ability to create subtle cloisonné surfaces over ceramic, copper, gold, or silver vessels that featured minimal use of supporting cloisons, as well as the use of gold and silver cloisons for compositional effect. Most of these works were produced for export to Europe, where their high level of craftsmanship was much admired.