Cloisonne

Cloisonné, also known as jingtailan is a unique art form originated in Beijing.

Cloisonné is also enamel, which flourished and reached it’s peak of development during the reign of the Ming emperor Jintai (1450-1457).As the objects were mostly came to be called jingtailan (Jingtai Blue) in Chinese.

One needs to go through 30 procedures to make a cloisonné. Copper is first used to make the base, after which the pattern is stuck on the bronze body by oblate brass wires as thin as hairs; the inlay pattern is then filled in by enamel glaze material in different colors kept apart by the wire strips. After being fired four or five times in a kiln, the work piece is polished and gilded into a colorful and lustrous work of art.

Since the Beijing cloisonné with unique national character was invented, it was mainly used as elegant ornaments in the imperial palaces of the Ming and Qing dynasties. At the World Expo of 1904 held in Chicago, Beijing cloisonné won the first prize. The earliest cloisonné articles reserved now are products in the period of Xuande during the Ming Dynasty.

Some cloisonné articles are made in forms of vases, jars and boxes; other are designed for ornamental purposes, adding extra beauty to things that are useful, such as vases, lamps, cigarette cases, wine jars, tea sets, etc. Nowadays cloisonné articles have been exported around the world.