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Cloisonné
wares are the outstanding handicrafts in China. The production
processes of cloisonné wares are painstaking and complicated.
Cloisonné is an enamel ware, in which the colors of the design
are kept apart by thin metal strips. Major work processes
include: making the red-copper roughcast, forming patterns
on the roughcast with thin copper strips, filling patterns
with enamel of different colors, firing, and polishing. The
making of Cloisonné integrates bronze and porcelain-working
skills, traditional painting and etching. It is the pinnacle
of traditional Chinese handicraft. It has
several hundred years of history. Beijing is
where Cloisonné making originated. The earliest extant Cloisonné
was made in the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368).The best was made
during the Xuande period |
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(1426-1456) of the Ming dynasty. During the Jingtai period
(1426-1456) of the Ming Dynasty, it became more popular, handicrafts
men found a dark-blue enamel which gave Cloisonné a gorgeous,
solemn look, the technique turned to be quite mature. As the
blue color was mostly used, so it is called Jingtai blue, and
is still used today.
In Beijing as well as other cities, most shops in hotels
as well as tourist stores sell Cloisonné articles, 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 developed a multi-coloring technique
for the making of Cloisonné which has resulted in more refined and gorgeous products. |
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