Founded in 1880 in Nagoya by Jubei Ando, Ando Cloisonné Co, Ltd. is a shippoyaki atelier that was designated as Intangible Cultural Heritage by the National Commission for Protection of Cultural Properties in 1957. Shippoyaki is the term used for cloisonné enamel. Employing ten craftspeople, the atelier is currently the only remaining workshop of this size in the region. The introduction of cloisonné enamel in Japan dates back to ancient times, thanks in particular to the Silk Road trade, although the current technique was developed in Nagoya at the end of the 18th century making it a traditional craft of the region.
Ando's high level of craftsmanship and the elegance of its creations soon attracted the attention of foreign collectors, particularly at the 1900 Paris Exposition, and was thus given an Imperial Warrant of Appointment to the Japanese court in the same year, its products being presented as diplomatic gifts. With two boutiques in Nagoya and Tokyo, Ando continues to develop original cloisonné ware and techniques to meet specific orders. The atelier is also actively engaged in the restoration of old pieces, as well as passing on the specific techniques and aesthetics of Japanese cloisonné enamel to future generations of artisans.
Ando Cloisonné
