10048M-001

Carp by moonlight This limited edition of five pieces in Grand Feu cloisonné enamel draws inspiration from a purple kimono dating from the Meiji era (1868–1912), a national treasure conserved in the Tokyo National Museum. The enameller brought into play the full range of his skills to reproduce the wealth of detail on this unique costume. The outlines of the embroideries, depicting carp leaping to the surface of the water and branches of weeping willow swaying in the wind, called for about 46.47 m of gold wire (~25.98 g). The artisan then conjured up the vibrancy and nuances of the purple, using transparent, opaque and semi-transparent enamels in 12 colors and miniature painting on enamel in 5 colors to render the sumptuous sheen and softness of the silk. To convey the extremely precious nature of the kimono, he enriched some of the details with gold leaf according to the technique of paillonné enameling. The successive coats of enamel lend a striking sense of depth to this moonlit scene. Each enameled plate underwent some 15 firings at a temperature of about 770°C. An hour circle in white mother-of-pearl adorned with baguette-cut amethyst hour markers (~1.8 cts) frames gilt leaf-shaped hands. The dial center is enriched with a sunburst motif, shining through coats of translucent purple enamel. This clock is powered by a calibre 17’’’ PEND mechanical movement rewound by an electric motor.