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What is Cloisonné?
Cloisonné is a multi step enameling process. It 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 the 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 copper-smith. The only difference is that when an article is
shaped, the copper-smith'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
creativeness. The artisan adheres copper strips onto the body. These strips are
of 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 and he can make 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 the 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, then 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, changed 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. Cloisonné beads are made in a variety of shapes and colors.
The traditional round bead with a floral pattern is as popular today as it was
five centuries ago. In Chinese, Cloisonné is termed "Jing Tai Blue."
It was very popular in the "Jing Tai" period of the Ming dynasty.
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