George Walter Vincent and Belle Townsley Smith collected cloisonné for 30 years before their museum opened in 1896. Trade between China and the West began in the 18th century, stimulating both American and European collectors to purchase Chinese art. Although the Smiths never visited China, they had a life-long appreciation for the country’s decorative arts and culture.
To produce cloisonné, the artist soldered bronze wires onto a heavy cast bronze body, forming an intricate trellis-work of compartments. Enamel pastes were packed into the sections, called cloisons, and fired in a kiln. Each colored enamel required a separate firing. Repeated heating often caused a piece to melt or crack and the enamels to bubble. Perfect pieces of cloisonné required great delicacy and patience. The Smiths’ collection includes examples from the Ming dynasty (1368-1644), considered to be the “golden age” of cloisonné, as well as fine pieces from the Ching dynasty (1644-1912). Household objects such as vases, candlesticks, dishes and jars, as well as religious items such as incense burners, are all displayed in the Museum. Of particular interest is an exceptional cloisonné vase, decorated with extraordinary gilt bronze dragons. The vase, which GWV Smith purchased in New York City as a young man, features the three-dimensional mythical beasts on a background of deep blue enamel, indicative of both the sky and the water in which it was believed that dragons ruled. The waves at the bottom of the vase further emphasize the frequent watery home of the creatures. The two magnificently detailed dragons are fighting over, or searching for, the orb in the middle of the vase which represents the flaming pearl of wisdom, a symbol often depicted with the animals to indicate their immortality, strength and energy. The artist’s tour-de-force combines motion, color and graceful lines to create an object of powerful beauty. Another unusual object on exhibit is a blue and red elephant bearing a yellow vase. This lighthearted piece probably was created for personal use (not for sale) and incorporates auspicious symbolism. The words for vase and peace in Chinese have the same pronunciation (ping), while the word for elephant (hsiang) also connotes hope. Thus, the sculpture represents a wish for peace and hope.
Today, the Cloisonné Gallery remains much the same as in the Smiths’ original arrangement. The ginger tone of the gallery, a popular color in the early 20th century, is similar to the color the Smiths chose to paint the walls, and the objects are displayed in their original late 19th century wooden cases.