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Index
 Cloisonné
is a unique combination of copper and
porcelain working skills, traditional painting, sculpting,
and etching skills. Originating in
Beijing
during the Yuan
Dynasty (1271-1368), cloisonné is an intricate process
that requires many years of training for an artisan
to master.
Cloisonné underwent a major change during the Ming Dynasty
around 1426-1456 when a blue enamel was discovered, which
gives cloisonné its gorgeous look, and is still used today.
Ming
Dynasty cloisonné is considered the most intricate.
Cloisonné
pieces can be found in large objects, such as vases
and other large utensils and decorative items, as well as small
items like earrings, bracelets, chopsticks, or jars.
The
Making of a Masterpiece
When
visiting
China, be sure to visit a cloisonné factory. It’s an
experience you won’t soon forget. Cloisonné requires many
hours of pain-staking labor, and Chinese artisans have mastered
the entire process. It’s amazing to watch each of the artisans
in
deep concentration creating these beautiful pieces.
Step
1: Cloisonné Design
 The
first step in creating one of these lustrous
cloisonné
pieces is to create the design. Artists
draw the design on a piece of paper, which is
then handed
off to the next artisan in the process.
Step 2:
Base Hammering
| In
this step, copper sheets are hammered on to an enamel
piece,
whether it is a large vase or a small bracelet. The seams
are sealed with copper solder and then the piece is put
into a stove to weld it. This is a time-consuming step and
must be done perfectly to achieve the desired effect. |
 |
Step
3: Copper Wire Curving
 Unbeknownst
to most people, cloisonné is not
constructed of a single piece of enamel. It is
constructed instead of hundreds, and sometimes
thousands of small copper wires glued to the
copper base.
| Workers
shape a small red copper wire to make the design as the
designer has instructed. These small, intricate designs
can be birds, flowers, or any of hundreds of other types
of designs. The wires are attached using small tweezers
and pliers. The copper wires are then pasted on the
surface of the copper body. Then another worker puts
silver solder between the red copper wire and the red
copper body. The piece is then put in the stove where the
copper wires are welded onto the base. |
 |
Step
4: Enamel Filling
 When
cooled, workers polish the piece and
then fill in the wire design with enamel
materials according to the color design.
Workers sit in front of a table using a small
suction pipe to suck the enamel from the
colored dishes into the pipe.
After
filling the wires with enamel, workers absorb any remaining
moisture with cotton. The piece is then put in a kiln for the
first
firing. During the firing process, the enamel shrinks. So when
cooled, workers fill with more materials and fire again. This
entire process is repeated three times until the enamel
completely fills the copper wires.
Step
5: Polishing
| The
final step in this involved process is polishing. Workers
use emery stone to polish the cloisonné until it is very
smooth. They even up the color enamel material with the
copper wire. If there are places where the enamel
doesn’t quite match evenly with the copper wires, more
enamel is added and the piece is fired again. The
polishing process will begin again. Then a soft yellow
stone is used to grind off any larger imperfections.
Charcoal is used last to grind the piece to a high sheen. |
 |
Creating
the gorgeous cloisonné pieces we see today takes
time, patience, and ingenuity. Regardless of the type of
cloisonné piece that you have, it is sure to add beauty and
elegance to your home or office.
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