A Shared Enchantment - Contemporary enamelling from Japan, Australia and Aotearoa

A Shared Enchantment Enamel works by Tsuruya Sakurai, Kazuko Inomata, Hiroki Iwata, Helen Aitken-Kuhnen, Mio Kuhnen and Jasmine Watson.

2 – 23 April 2022

Tsuruya Sakurai (dec 2021) Nagoya 1. Box with Flowers Cloisonné enamel on copper; 190 (D) x 95 (H) mm

$27,900

Tsuruya Sakurai (dec 2021) Nagoya 2. Lotus flower box Moriage, cloisonné enamel on copper; 68 (D) x 88 (H) mm

$13,400

Kazuko Inomata Osaka 3. Portraits ¼ Cloisonné, doro enamel on copper; 140 (H) x 140 (W) x 6 (D) mm

$1150

Kazuko Inomata Osaka 4. Portraits 1/2 Cloisonné, doro enamel on copper; 140 (H) x 140 (W) x 6 (D) mm

$1150

Kazuko Inomata Osaka 5. Portraits 1/3 Cloisonné, doro enamel on copper; 140 (H) x 140 (W) x 6 (D) mm

$1150

Kazuko Inomata Osaka 6. Portraits 1/4 Cloisonné, doro enamel on copper; 140 (H) x 140 (W) x 6 (D) mm

$1150

Kazuko Inomata Osaka 7. Round Box Cloisonné, doro enamel on copper; 135 (D) x 80 (H) mm

$7295

Hiroki Iwata Tokyo 8. Object Enamel on copper, silver foils; 310 (H) x 150 (W) x 90 (D) mm

$5600

Hiroki Iwata Tokyo 9. Object Enamel on copper, silver foils; 190 (H) x 102 (W) x 198 (D) mm

$5600

Hiroki Iwata Tokyo 10. Brooch Enamel on silver, gold plate; 35 (H) x 86 (W) x 130 (L) mm

$2995

Hiroki Iwata Tokyo 11. Brooch Enamel on silver, gold plate; 48 (H) x 80 (D) mm

$2995

Hiroki Iwata Tokyo 12. Brooch Enamel on silver; 30 (H) x 36 (W) x 140 (L) mm

$2650

Mio Kuhnen 13. Moth Flittering brooches, 2021 Cloisonné enamel, 925 silver; 60 (h) x 45 (w) x 20 (d) mm

$2700

Mio Kuhnen 14. Moth Flittering brooches, 2021 Cloisonné enamel, 925 silver; 50 (h) x 35 (w) x 18 (d) mm

$2250

Mio Kuhnen 15. Moth Flittering brooches, 2021 Cloisonné enamel, 925 silver; 40 (H) x 35 (W) x 15 (D) mm

$2050

Mio Kuhnen 16. Moth Ballet Brooch, 2021 Enamel, 925 silver; 45 (W) x 63 (H) x 15 (D) mm

$1375

Mio Kuhnen 17. Moth Ballet Brooch I, 2021 Enamel, 925 silver; 38 (W) x 43 (H) x 18 (D) mm

$1250

Mio Kuhnen 18. Moth Ballet Brooch II, 2021 Enamel, 925 silver; 38 (W) x 43 (H) x 18 (D) mm

$1250

Mio Kuhnen 19. Moth Ballet Brooch III, 2021 Enamel, 925 silver; 38 (W) x 43 (H) x 18 (D) mm

$1250

Mio Kuhnen 20. ‘The chaos before the abyss’- Murray Canyons brooch I, 2017 Enamel, 925 silver; 65 (W) x 50 (H) x 5 (D) mm

$1595

Mio Kuhnen 21. ‘The chaos before the abyss’- Murray Canyons brooch II, 2017 Enamel, 925 silver;65 (W) x 50 (H) x 5 (D) mm

$1595

Mio Kuhnen 22. ‘The chaos before the abyss’- Murray Canyons brooch III, 2017 Enamel, 925 silver; 65 (W) x 50 (H) x 5 (D) mm

$1595

Mio Kuhnen 23. ‘The chaos before the abyss’- Murray Canyons Pendant, 2017 Enamel, 925 silver. Oxidized; 34 (W) x 45 (H) x 5 (D) mm

$980

Mio Kuhnen 24. Moth compositions champlevé enamel, cloisonné, 925 silver; 45 (w) x 48 (h) x 8 (d) mm

$2480

Mio Kuhnen 25. Moth compositions champlevé enamel, cloisonné, 925 silver; 50 (w) x 62 (h) x 12 (d) mm

$2695

Mio Kuhnen 26. The Amazon - Moths from the Jungle. Pendant, 2019 champlevé enamel, 925 silver; double sided medium; 42 (D) x 8 (depth) mm

$1595

Mio Kuhnen 27. The Amazon - Moths from the Jungle. Pendant, 2019 champlevé enamel, 925 silver; double sided large; 53 (D) x 8 (depth) mm

$1795

Mio Kuhnen 28. The Amazon - Moths from the Jungle, 2019 Brooch, champlevé enamel, 925 silver; 33 (D) x 3 (depth) mm

$860

Mio Kuhnen 29. Bulloak Jewl Butterfly (Hypochrysops piceatus) Brooch, 2022 Champlevé enamel, cloisonné, 925 silver; 55 (H) x 41 (W) x 9 (D) mm

$2695

Mio Kuhnen 30. Laced Fritillary Butterfly (Argynnis hyperbius inconstans) Brooch, 2022 champlevé enamel, cloisonné, 925 silver; 51 (H) x 53 (W) x 10 (D) mm

$2695

Mio Kuhnen 31. Laced Fritillary Butterfly (Argynnis hyperbius inconstans) Brooch, 2021 Champlevé enamel, copper, stainless steel; 38 x 43 x 18 mm

$975

Mio Kuhnen 32. Bulloak Jewel Butterfly (Hypochrysops) Pendant, 2021 Champlevé enamel, copper, stainless steel; 38 x 43 x 18 mm

$975

Mio Kuhnen 33. Lava, Big Island Flow, 2019 - pendant champlevé enamel, 925 silver; double sided – medium; 42 (D) x 8 (depth) mm

$1595

Mio Kuhnen 34. Lava, Big Island Flow, 2019 - brooch champlevé enamel, 925 silver; large; 53 (D) x 5 (depth) mm

$1375

Mio Kuhnen 35. Lava, Big Island Flow, 2019 -Brooch champlevé enamel, 925 silver; Medium; 42 (D) x 5 (depth) mm

$1195

Mio Kuhnen 36. Lava earrings, 2019 champlevé enamel, 925 silver, stainless steel pins; Dia15mm, Small

$360

Mio Kuhnen 37. Lava earrings, 2019 champlevé enamel, 925 silver, stainless steel pins; Dia18mm, Small

$360

Mio Kuhnen 38. Lava earrings, 2019 champlevé enamel, 925 silver, stainless steel pins; Dia25mm medium

$360

Mio Kuhnen 39. Lava earrings, 2019 champlevé enamel, 925 silver, stainless steel pins; Dia25mm, medium

$360

Mio Kuhnen 40. Lava earrings, 2019 champlevé enamel, 925 silver, stainless steel pins; H27 x 12mm, hanging

$410

Mio Kuhnen 41. Lava earrings, 2019 champlevé enamel, 925 silver, stainless steel pins; H25 x 18mm, hanging

$410

Mio Kuhnen 42. Moth and butterfly earrings, 2022 champlevé enamel, 925 silver, stainless steel pin; H20 x W25mm, Orange studs

$360

Mio Kuhnen 43. Moth and butterfly earrings, 2022 champlevé enamel, 925 silver, stainless steel pin; 19 x 19mm, Blue studs

$360

Mio Kuhnen 44. Moth and butterfly earrings, 2022 champlevé enamel, 925 silver, sterling silver, hanging; 28 x 25mm.

$410

Mio Kuhnen 45. Moth and butterfly earrings, 2022 champlevé enamel, 925 silver, sterling silver, hanging; 25 x 25mm.

$410

Helen Aitken-Kuhnen 46. Coral Pendant, 2021 Cloisonné enamel, 925 silver; 45 (H) x 22 (W) x 7 (D) mm

$4050

Helen Aitken-Kuhnen 47. Coral Pendant, 2021 Cloisonné enamel, 925 silver; 60 (H) x 22 (W) x 8 (D) mm

$4050

Helen Aitken-Kuhnen 48. Coral Brooch, 2021 Cloisonné enamel, 925 silver; 48 (H) x 26 (W) x 7 (D) mm

$4050

Helen Aitken-Kuhnen 49. Coral Brooch, 2021 Cloisonné enamel, 925 silver; 50 (H) x 20 (W) x 7 (D) mm

$4050

Helen Aitken-Kuhnen 50. Breaking Dawn #1 pendant, 2019 Champlevé enamel, 925 silver and stainless steel cable; 15 (w) x 77 (h) x 7 (d) mm

$4250

Helen Aitken-Kuhnen 51. Land to Sea brooch, 2013 Champlevé enamel, 925 silver; 30 (w) x 105 (h) x 8 (d) mm

$5595

Helen Aitken-Kuhnen 52. Beach brooch, 2011 Champlevé enamel, 925 silver; 43 (w) x 40 (h) x 5 (d) mm

$3150

Helen Aitken-Kuhnen 53. Land to Sea brooch, 2012 Champlevé enamel, 925 silver; 30 (w) x 80 (h) x 6 (d) mm

$5595

Helen Aitken-Kuhnen 54. Land to Sea brooch, 2013 Champlevé enamel, 925 silver; 31 (w) x 105 (h) x 8 (d) mm

$5595

Helen Aitken-Kuhnen 55. Land to Sea Armband I, 2013 (view of both sides) Champlevé enamel, 925 silver; 100 (Diameter) x 4 (d) mm; Internal Dia60mm

$8950

Helen Aitken-Kuhnen 56. Land to Sea Armband, 2013 (view of both sides) Champlevé enamel, 925 silver; 100 (Diameter) x 4 (d) mm; Internal Dia67mm

$8950

Helen Aitken-Kuhnen 57. Found lines. pendant, 2019 $1375 doro enamel, champlevé and cloisonné, 925 silver, 18ct gold, fine silver, copper; 35 x 31 x 8mm; purple

Helen Aitken-Kuhnen 58. Found lines. pendant, 2019 doro enamel, champlevé and cloisonné, 925 silver, 18ct gold, fine silver, copper; 34 x 30 x 6mm

$1375

Helen Aitken-Kuhnen 59. Found lines brooch, 2019 doro enamel, champlevé and cloisonné, 925 silver, copper, brass; 33 x 36 x 3mm

$1375

Helen Aitken-Kuhnen 60. Found lines brooch, 2019 $1375 doro enamel, champlevé and cloisonné, 925 silver, 18ct gold, fine silver, copper; 38 x 30 x 6mm; yellow

Helen Aitken-Kuhnen 61. Angry Sean Anemone Pendant, 2020 enamel, cloisonné, 925 silver; 26 x 46 x 8mm

$3150

Helen Aitken-Kuhnen 62. Angry Ocean Pendant, 2020 enamel, cloisonné, 925 silver; 56 (w) x 34 (h) x 9 (d)mm

$3150

Helen Aitken-Kuhnen 63. Angry Coral Brooch, 2021 Champlevé enamel, sterling silver, stainless steel; 55 x 48 x 12mm

$2695

Helen Aitken-Kuhnen 64. Angry Ocean - from the depths, 2021 Champlevé enamel, sterling silver, stainless steel; 43 x 50 x 12mm

$2950

Helen Aitken-Kuhnen 65. Ocean Transition - dying ocean, Pendant, 2022 Champlevé, enamel, copper; 52 (H) x 44 (W) x 12(D)mm

$3150

Helen Aitken-Kuhnen 66. Ocean Transition - dying ocean, Pendant, 2022 Champlevé, enamel, copper; 33 (H) x 47 (W) x 10 (D)mm

$3150

Helen Aitken-Kuhnen 67. Ocean Transition Pendant, 2022 Champlevé, enamel, 925 silver; 33 (H) x 42 (W) x 9 (D)mm

$3150

Helen Aitken-Kuhnen 68. Ocean Transitions Brooch, 2022 Champlevé, enamel, 925 silver; 42 (H) x 52 (W) x 10 (D)mm

$3150

Helen Aitken-Kuhnen 69. Ocean Transitions brooch, 2021 Champlevé, moriage enamel, copper; 37 (H) x 57 (W) x 12 (D)mm

$2950

Helen Aitken-Kuhnen 70. Angry Coral Brooch, 2021 Champlevé enamel, sterling silver, stainless steel; 55 (H) x 48 (W) x 12 (D)mm

$2695

Helen Aitken-Kuhnen 71. Ocean Transitions Earrings, 2021 Approx. 30 (H) x 12 (W) x 1.2 (D)mm

$475

Helen Aitken-Kuhnen 72. Ocean Transitions Earrings, 2021 Approx. 30 (H) x 12 (W) x 1.2 (D)mm

$475

Helen Aitken-Kuhnen 73. Ocean Transitions Earrings, 2021 Approx. 21 (H) x 20 (W) x 1.2 (D)mm

$410

Helen Aitken-Kuhnen 74. Ocean Transitions Earrings, 2021 Approx. 21 (H) x 20 (W) x 1.2 (D)mm

$410

Helen Aitken-Kuhnen 75. Ocean Transitions Earrings, 2021 Approx. 21 (H) x 20 (W) x 1.2 (D)mm

$410

Helen Aitken-Kuhnen 76. Ocean Transitions Earrings, 2021 Approximate size - 21 (H) x 20 (W) x 1.2 (D) mm

$410

Helen Aitken-Kuhnen 77. Ocean Transitions Earrings, 2021 Approx. 21 (H) x 20 (W) x 1.2 (D)mm

$410

Jasmine Watson 78-80. Hexagons, Mandalam Series I-III, 2010.

Sterling silver, champlevé enamel; Dimensions: 6.5cm diameter, each

$3200 each

Jasmine Watson 78. Hexagons, Mandalam Series I, 2010.

Sterling silver, champlevé enamel; Dimensions: 6.5cm diameter,

$3200

Jasmine Watson 79. Hexagons, Mandalam Series II, 2010.

Sterling silver, champlevé enamel; Dimensions: 6.5cm diameter

$3200

Jasmine Watson 80. Hexagons, Mandalam Series III, 2010.

Sterling silver, champlevé enamel; Dimensions: 6.5cm diameter

$3200

Jasmine Watson 81-84. Hexagons, Subsequence Series, 2011.

Sterling silver, champlevé enamel, limited edition 8, 9,13 & 14, of 21 Dimensions: 5cm diameter, each

$2800 each

Jasmine Watson 81. Hexagons, Subsequence Series, 2011.

Sterling silver, champlevé enamel, limited edition 8 of 21 Dimensions: 5cm diameter,

$2800

Jasmine Watson 82. Hexagons, Subsequence Series, 2011.

Sterling silver, champlevé enamel, limited edition 9 of 21 Dimensions: 5cm diameter

$2800

Jasmine Watson 83. Hexagons, Subsequence Series, 2011.

Sterling silver, champlevé enamel, limited edition 13 of 21 Dimensions: 5cm diameter

$2800

Jasmine Watson 84. Hexagons, Subsequence Series, 2011.

Sterling silver, champlevé enamel, limited edition 14 of 21 Dimensions: 5cm diameter

$2800

Jasmine Watson 85-91. Bowls, Subsequence Series, 2012.

Sterling silver, champlevé enamel, limited edition 1-7, of 28 Dimensions: 5.5cm diameter, each

$3200 each

A Shared Enchantment - Japanese, Australian and New Zealand contemporary enamelling.

This exhibition showcases contemporary Japanese, Australian and New Zealand enamellers of jewellery and objects who were either former students or colleagues to the late Tsuruya Sakurai, former chief enameller and adviser to the Ando Cloisonné Company in Japan.

A Shared Enchantment illustrates the extraordinary technical sophistication and challenges of enamelling, in both the traditional and contemporary craft forms. The exhibition connects Japanese and Western enamelling through the artists who have had a connection to Japanese master, Tsuruya Sakurai.

The exhibition includes enameled objects and jewellery by artists Kazuko Inomata, Hiroki Iwata, Helen AitkenKuhnen, Mio Kuhnen and Jasmine Watson. There are also two major pieces of the late Tsuruya Sakurai as a contemporary connection to the artists that have worked alongside or attended masterclasses with him.

We see this exhibition as a wonderful opportunity to profile the crafts practice of enamelling through an exquisite group of objects that celebrate the traditional craft of cloisonné enamelling.

Brief History Enamelling is an old and widely adopted technology, for most of its history mainly used in jewellery and decorative art.

Unlike many other forms of applied art, enamelling appears in the history of virtually all the world’s great cultures.

The ancient Greeks, the Romans, the medieval Europeans, the Mughals, and the Chinese all had their own enamel techniques.

They created works of great interest, but it was not until the nineteenth century in the hands of Japanese artists that cloisonné enamel achieved its ultimate potential.

Distinctively Japanese designs, in which flowers, birds and insects were used as themes, became popular. Designs increasingly used areas of blank space.

Japanese enamels have been regarded as unequalled.

Definitions Cloisonné is an ancient technique for decorating metalwork objects with coloured material held in place or separated by metal strips or wire, normally of gold.

Moriage A painstaking technique involved building up areas of enamel to produce a three-dimensional effect, on Japanese Cloisonné often used for flowers.

Champlevé is an enamelling technique in the decorative arts, or an object made by that process, in which troughs or cells are carved, etched, die struck, or cast into the surface of a metal object, and filled with vitreous enamel.

Artist Profiles Tsuruya Sakurai (1923 – 2020) Chief enameller for the Ando Cloisonné Company and adviser to the Japanese enamelling association and lecturer at Tokyo University. The master Japanese enameller Tsuruya Sakurai was born in Nagano, Japan in 1923 and spent all his working life making enamelware at the prestigious Ando Cloisonné Company (Ando Company). In the early 20th century the Company supplied enamel work for the Japanese court and is now one of the very few traditional cloisonné companies that remain in Japan. Objects from Ando Company are held in the collections of the Walters Art Museum and the Victoria and Albert Museum. Mr Tsuruya Sakurai was a member of the Japan Enamelling Artists' Association from 1977 and continued to exhibit his works in major Japanese cultural exhibitions.

Kazuko Inomata A student of Tsuruya Sakurai who assisted his teaching tours to Australia and has herself a long-standing teaching career. Kazuko is an advisor to the Japan Mint and has taught the enamellers who work at the Japan Mint.

Hiroki Iwata Born in Tokyo and graduated in 1992 from the Tokyo National University of Fine Art and Music. Hiroki Iwata is one of the few Japanese metal artists researching and experimenting with enamel and in 2003 he became Director of the Japan Enamelling Artists Association. He is also a member of the Japan Craft Design Association. He has exhibited widely in Japan and Abroad in both solo and group shows winning many prizes. He is currently a Professor at Tokyo University of the Arts.

Helen Aitken-Kuhnen A contemporary enameller, jeweller/glass artist and Co-Director of Bilk Gallery.

Helen has a long-standing contemporary enamelling practice and is widely collected both in private and public collections, including the National Gallery of Australia, the Art Gallery of South Australia and the National Gallery of Victoria. Winner of the 'President Award', selected by jury at the 52nd International Exhibition of the Japan Enamelling Artist Association held at the Ueno Royal Museum, Tokyo, in February 2018.

Mio Kuhnen A geologist, enameller, contemporary jeweler and Co-Director of Bilk Gallery. An emerging artist who has studied with both Tsuruya Sakurai, Helen Aitken-Kuhnen and Johannes Kuhnen and has a successful contemporary practice.

Exhibited internationally (Japan, China, USA, and Thailand) and within Australia.

Jasmine Watson A contemporary enameller in Aotearoa (a former student of Helen Aitken-Kuhnen and a longtime collaborator).

Jasmine has studied with Tsuruya Sakurai and exhibited in Japan.

Winner of the 'President Award', selected by jury at the 44th International Exhibition of the Japan Enamelling Artist Association held at the Ueno Royal Museum, Tokyo, in February 2011. Jasmine has also won an 'Award for Excellence' in the 24th International Cloisonne Jewellery Contest, a juried exhibition which is part of the annual 'Japan Shippo Conference' in Tokyo.