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Cloisonne
"Cloisonne",also known as cloisonne enamel, is the decorative art of applying enamel of all colors to the surface of a copper or bronze object which is then fired to become a bright and colorful work of art.
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The Art of Decorative Enameling |
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"Cloisonné",
also known as cloisonne enamel, is the decorative
art of applying enamel of all colors to the surface
of a copper or bronze object which is then fired
to become a bright and colorful work of art. This
artistic technique was transmitted to China from
the West and reached its peak of perfection as a
result of the concerted efforts of Chinese artisans.
Chinese cloisonné thereupon became the standard
by which to measure the quality and appraise the
beauty of cloisonn| world-wide. This ranks as one
of China 's major contributions to the world's fine
arts. |
| The technique for cloisonne
enameling was passed onto China by missionaries from
central Asia sometime in the early to mid-14th century.
After mastering the skill of manufacturing enamel products,
Chinese constantly improved and enhanced this special
technique, making it a distinctly Chinese art. During
the mid-15th century reign of Ming Emperor Ching T'ai,
cloisonné production was extremely prosperous--many
cloisoné works of the most delicate quality
were produced. These works were mostly fused with a
kind of special blue enamel as the base color, hence
the term for cloisonné in Chinese: ching-t'ai-lan
(``Ching-t'ai Blue''). |
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The
main reason that such stunning achievements were possible
in so short a time after cloisonné technique had
been transmitted to China was that the Chinese nation of
the time possessed excellent conditions for developing
cloisonn| enameling art--it already had metallurgical technology,
such as bronze casting; glass and glaze production techniques
were well-known; and how to accurately control the firing
temperature was already understood. Another reason was
that the enamel was as soft and smooth as jade, as glittering
as jewelry, and as delicate as china--satisfying many sorts
of Chinese likings. |
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The
general method for making cloisonné involved first
soldering brass wires to the surface of a copper object
to form a pattern or illustration, then, according to the
requirements of each pattern, colored enamels were filled
in. |
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Enamel
was made by melting different materials such as red
lead, boric acid borate, and glass powder together
to become an opaque or translucent glistening substance.
A variety of oxidized metals are added, and the substance
then changed into enamels of different colors, or
enamel coloring. After the melted enamel cooled and
became solid, it was then ground into powder and
mixed with water prior to the filling in process. |
| After the spaces delineated
by brass wires on the copper object were filled in
with enamel paste, the object was then fired. After
every firing, the enamel would contract, producing
an uneven surface. It was then necessary to fill in
the uneven places with enamel paste of the same color
many times over. This procedure had to be repeated
many times until every filled-in space became thoroughly
smooth without any depressions. Only then was the firing
process complete. |
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Enamelware
that had been fired then needed to have its surface polished
smooth so that the soldered brass wire pattern and the
enamel substance were melded into one. Finally, the exposed
brass wires between parts of the patterns as well as the
rim and the bottom of an object, to which enamel had no
been applied, were gold plated. Thus, a work of cloisonn¦ art
was finished. |
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An exquisite piece
of cloisonné must have colors that are moist and
glossy, fresh and bright, a body that is substantive and
sturdy, a wire inlay that is neat and well-proportioned,
and gold plating that glitters. Its delicate appearance
and splendid patterns should emit a classical warmth that
rivets the gaze, and leaves one too infatuated to part
with it. |
In
Beijing , most shops in hotels as well as tourist stores
sell Cloisonnearticles, which can be as big as sacrificial
utensils, screens tables and chairs, and as small as chopsticks,
earrings, candy boxes, toothpicks and smoking tools. They
are works of art as well as articles with use value. Handicraftsmen
have of late |
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