Beautiful Cloisonné  By Ming Hua He

The art of enameling has been around for thousands of years, but it was the Chinese who perfected it by using wires to separate the colors. The result is called cloisonné.

On our trips to China, we visit a cloisonné factory, where glass enamel is crushed into a powder and placed onto a vase, statue or other obejct, along with a fine pattern of wire (usually 24k gold or another precious metal), then fired in a kiln. 

Then, once the wires are held into position after firing, more colored enamel is brushed into the pits and cells of the design and fired again. This is repeated several times, sometimes as many as 20, until the enamel is just at the brim of the wire design.

The piece is then finished off with polishing and grinding.

Chinese Ceramics: Porcelain of the Qing Dynasty 1644-1911) describes the production of porcelain, which reached a peak of technical perfection in the early eighteenth century, and sets it against a wider historical and political background. It discusses the important role played by ceramics in the history of Chinese art and design.

Chinese cloisonné is known as some of the world’s best, and one of the many ways the country contributes to the fine arts of the world.

Some f the best-known cloisonné was produced during the Ming Dynasty around the 15^th century, many in a blue hue made by the Emperor Ching T'ai, which is why, to this day, the Chinese word for cloisonné means “Ching-t'ai Blue.”

The extraordinary Chinese Glazes : Their Origins, Chemistry and Recreation provides a window into the composition and techniques used by ancient Chinese potters to achieve superb glazes admired by potters all over the world. Beautifully illustrated by both color and black-and-white photographs, it's a must-have for those interested in Chinese glazes.

When you’re shopping for cloisonné, either in the U.S. or China, look for moist, glossy colors, shiny gold plating, and an overall appearance of brighness, sturdiness amd substance. Pay special attention to the pattern of the wire design.