12 Vintage Cloisonné Zodiac Eggs by Robert Kuo Ltd Wood Case

When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.

12 Vintage Cloisonné Zodiac Eggs by Robert Kuo Ltd Wood Case :
$119.00

You are looking at twelve beautiful vintage zodiac cloisonné eggs by artist Robert Kuo. Each egg has a squarebrass/gold coloredplaque on the bottom with Robert Kuo Ltd on it. This business was established in 1984. I have contacted the business and they told me the following: \"The Cloisonné Zodiac Eggs were made for a special program for American Express during the ’80’s. We only made it for them and they are not in production.\" In other words they area limited edition and rare!

The order of the astrological signs what you see in the box is Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius and Pisces. All are in excellent shape except for three: the Scorpio (see picture, green egg) has obvious damage on the back but not very visible when displayed. The Gemini has a little scuff on bottom next to the plaque (see picture black egg) not visiblewhen displayed, and the Taurus has some scuff on the top (see picture light brown egg) not visible when displayed.

Box is in excellent condition. On bottom is velvet, in one corner is a dirt spot see picture. Inside box is a pretty satin like yellowcloth with flower pattern in same color but shinier. It has one smudge in top middle of lid (visible on picture).

Size box: Approx. 14 inches by 6.5 inchesby 2.5 inches.Size eggs: Approx. 6 inches circumference and 2.5 inches tall.

Shipping includes insurance. Paypal only please. Comes from smoke free home.

Thank you for looking. Happy offerding!

About the artist:

Robert Kuo was born in Beijing in 1946. He moved with his family to Taiwan in 1947 where he grew up in an artistic Environment. His father, an art professor and Chinese watercolor painter, started a cloisonné atelier where Robert became an apprentice at age 15. Although he never engaged in formal art studies, he gained technical expertise and learned about decorative tradition from his father and from ‘hands on\' training. As he mastered each of the steps involved in cloisonné, from preparing copper bases to preparing enamels and firing the kilns, Kuo absorbed all the basics that were to serve him as he pursued his career as an artist.

In 1973, he immigrated to the United States and opened a studio for cloisonné in Beverly Hills.Utilizing the influences of Art Nouveau and Art Deco, Kuo introduced new shapes, finishes, and objects to cloisonné.

In 1985, Kuo shifted his focus from working in cloisonné to repoussé, the art of hammering decorative relief into metal.Kuo looked to China for artisans experienced in ancient repoussé techniques. He trained these craftsmen to adapt their skills to create new repoussé forms and objects.

In 1999, he began to work in lacquer. As with repoussé and cloisonné, Kuo has taken this medium beyond the traditional colors and designs, and has combined it with repoussé to create stunning objects, some of which take up to one year to produce.

Today he spends 4 to 6 months a year in China, working along side artisans to create new pieces which are appreciated and collected by an international clientele.While most of Robert Kuo\'s work over the past 15 years has been in repoussé, the artist has recently returned to cloisonné and has brought new levels of artistic and technical innovation to this ancient art form.Today he continues to push the limits of traditional cloisonné techniques.Robert Kuo lives in Los Angeles with his wife, Alice.

About the cloisonné technique:

The cloisonné technique is an enameling on metal technique that dates back to the Byzantine Empire. The technique reached China around the 12-13th century. Cloisonné is a difficult and time-consuming technique and requires the following steps listed below:

1.) Form the metal base (Repousse Copper).

2.) Form wires by hand to outline the predetermined design.

3.) Solder the wires in place accurately and carefully to form ‘cloisons’ or cells.

4.) Mix the colors that contain heat proof metal oxides.

5.) Carefully fill the cells/cloisons with enamels. Fire piece in kiln. Colors are fired according to their burning rate. Shrinkage occurs during firing and refilling and firing is required until the cell is filled.

6.) Hand-sanding with carborundum to smooth the enameled section and make it even with the wire cells.

7.) Polishing.

8.) Gold plating the wire cells.

With traditional cloisonné, technique and design were not compatible; the cloisonné technique limited design innovation and experimentation. In the 1980’s, Robert Kuo began his repertoire with cloisonné and introduced flowing designs with out compromising on the technical quality. He also created new matte cloisonné colors that are patented. He took a break from cloisonné to explore the repousse technique and now returns to designing cloisonné but in nonmonochrome colors, patterns, and larger pieces.