Owari Shippo (尾張七宝) is a type of cloisonné ware (shippo-yaki) produced in Ama City and Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture, designated as a Traditional Craft (Dentō-teki Kōgeihin) by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry on April 5, 1995, as the 29th designation group.
History
Owari Shippo is said to have originated during the Tenpō era (1830–1844), when Kaji Tsunekichi, a resident of Owari Province, discovered and improved the cloisonné manufacturing method by using an imported Dutch cloisonné plate as a reference. The craft subsequently developed into a thriving local industry centred on the Shippo district of Ama City, which remains the recognised birthplace of Owari Shippo. Long-established producers such as Tamura Shippo Kogei have maintained their kilns (kamamoto) in the Shippo-chō area across generations, while firms including Ando Shippo-ten, based in Sakae, Naka Ward, Nagoya City, and Kato Shippo Seisakusho, located in Nishi Ward, Nagoya City, have also contributed to the tradition. Owari Shippo is additionally registered as a regional collective trademark (Chiiki Dantai Shōhyō).
Techniques & Production Process
Owari Shippo is produced on a metal base of copper or silver. The surface of this base is coated with a glassy glaze (yūyaku) decorated with motifs such as flowers, birds, landscapes, and natural scenery. The representative technique is yūsen shippo (有線七宝), or cloisonné with silver wire outlines, in which fine silver wire is applied to the metal base to form the outlines of the design before the glaze is applied and fired. This wire-framing process defines the characteristic cell structure associated with cloisonné ware. The finished pieces encompass a range of products including vases, framed pictures, decorative plates, and jewelry boxes.
How to Identify Owari Shippo
Owari Shippo is distinguished by its glassy, vitreous surface produced through the application of coloured glazes onto a copper or silver metal base. The yūsen shippo technique produces visible silver wire outlines that separate the different glaze colours, creating the characteristic compartmentalised patterning associated with cloisonné enamel. Decorative motifs typically drawn from nature — including flowers, birds, and landscapes — appear within these wire-bounded cells. As a registered regional collective trademark, pieces bearing the Owari Shippo designation originate from the designated production area in Ama City and Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture.
The Craft Today
Cloisonné craft production continues to thrive in the Shippo district of Ama City, which functions as the principal production centre for Japanese traditional crafts in this category. Established workshops and producers remain active in both Ama City and Nagoya City. Kato Shippo Seisakusho in Nishi Ward, Nagoya City, holds registration as a certified traditional craftsperson. The craft's METI designation, received in 1995, supports the continued recognition and promotion of Owari Shippo as part of Japan's broader framework of designated traditional craft industries, which is administered by the General Incorporated Foundation for the Promotion of Traditional Craft Industries (一般財団法人 伝統的工芸品産業振興協会). Works can be viewed at Dentou Kogei Aoyama Square, located at 8-1-22 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo, which is open from 11:00 to 19:00 year-round except for the New Year holiday period. Owari Shippo shares certain characteristics with other Japanese vitreous and decorative crafts, such as Satsuma Kiriko cut glass and Ryukyu Glass, in its reliance on the interplay of colour and light through a worked surface medium.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Owari Shippo?
Owari Shippo is a type of cloisonné ware (shippo-yaki) produced in Ama City and Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture. It involves applying a glassy glaze decorated with natural motifs onto a copper or silver metal base, with the yūsen shippo technique using silver wire to outline the design.
Where is Owari Shippo produced?
Owari Shippo is produced primarily in Ama City and Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture. The Shippo district of Ama City is regarded as the birthplace of the craft and remains an active centre of production.
When was Owari Shippo designated as a Traditional Craft?
Owari Shippo received its designation as a Traditional Craft (Dentō-teki Kōgeihin) by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry on April 5, 1995, as part of the 29th designation group.
How did Owari Shippo originate?
The craft is said to have originated during the Tenpō era (1830–1844), when Kaji Tsunekichi, a resident of Owari Province, studied an imported Dutch cloisonné plate and developed an improved manufacturing method based on it.
What types of products are made using Owari Shippo techniques?
Main products of Owari Shippo include vases, framed pictures, decorative plates, and jewelry boxes.
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