About: Namikawa Sōsuke

Namikawa Sōsuke (1847–1910) was a Japanese cloisonné artist, known for innovations that developed cloisonné enamel into an artistic medium sharing many features with paintings. He and Namikawa Yasuyuki (no relation) were the most famous cloisonné artists of the 1890 to 1910 period, known as the "golden age" of Japanese enamels. Around 1880 he set up and ran the Tokyo branch of the Nagoya Cloisonné Company. He exhibited his artworks at national and international expositions, where he took an organising role. He was recognised as an Imperial Household Artist and created art works for imperial residences. He sometimes signed his works with the character sakigake (pioneer).