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Cloisonné
is a famous traditional enamelware with a history of over 500 years.
Cloisonné is one of the famous arts and crafts of Beijing. The making
of cloisonné requires rather elaborate and complicated processes:
base-hammering, copper-strip inlay, soldering, enamel-filling,
enamel-firing, polishing and gilding.
Base-hammering of body is the first step in the making of cloisonné.
The material used for making the body is copper, because copper is
easily hammered and stretched. This step requires a sound judgment in
the shaping and uniformity of thickness and weight. It is in fact, the
work of the coppersmith. The only difference is that when an article is
shaped, the coppersmith's work is finished, whereas the cloisonné
craftsman's work has just begun.
The second step is filigree soldering. This step requires great care and
high creativity. The artisan adheres copper strips onto the body. These
strips are 1/16 inch in diameter and of lengths as the artisan desires.
The strips of filigree thus adhered, make up a complicated but complete
pattern. The artisan has a blueprint in mind making full use of his
experience, imagination and aesthetic view in setting the copper strips
on the body.
The third step is to apply color which is known as enamel filling. The
color or enamel, is like glaze on ceramics. It is called falang. Its
basic elements are boric acid, saltpeter and alkaline. Owing to the
difference in the minerals added, the color differs accordingly. Usually
one with much iron will turn gray, with uranium, yellow, with chromium,
green, with zinc, white, with bronze, blue, with gold or iodine, red.
The colors are ground into minute powder and applied in the cells
separated by filigree.
The fourth step is enamel firing. This is done by putting the article,
with its enamel filling, into a kiln. After a short moment, the copper
body will turn red. But after firing, the enamel in the little
compartments will sink down a bit. That will require a re-filling. This
process will go on repeatedly until the little cells are filled.
The fifth step is polishing. The first polish is with emery. Its aim is
to make the filigree and the filled compartments even. The whole piece
is again put to fire and polished once more with a whet-stone. Finally,
a piece of hard carbon is used to polish again so as to obtain some
luster on the surface of the article.
The sixth step is gilding. This is done by placing the article in fluid
of gold or silver, charged with electric current. The exposed parts of
the filigree and the metal fringes of the article will again undergo
another electroplating and a slight polish.
Most of the
products listed here have different sizes,
colors or other styles available. Please click on the
thumbnail picture of your selection to view a larger image
and see the additional attributes. Enjoy!
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