Age characteristics of cloisonné enamel, introduction to cloisonné enamel production

Cloisonné enamel is a type of enamelware. This craft probably spread from the Mediterranean region in the 19th century. The so-called filigree enamel refers to using gold or copper wire to cut out patterns on gold or copper bodies, filling them with enamel of various colors, and then going through processes such as roasting, grinding, and gold plating. Cloisonné enamel received more attention during the Jingtai period of the Ming Dynasty and achieved important development. It was usually based on blue glaze and decorated with patterns of various colors, so it was called cloisonné. The order of making cloisonné enamel is: first weld the copper wire to the carcass according to the pattern design, then apply glaze according to the color of the pattern, first apply the ground color, then the pattern color, then blue, and finally add bright white . After firing, it is polished successively with fine sandstone, yellowstone and charcoal. After polishing and rust removal, it is then gold plated.
Due to the complexity of the filigree enamel craftsmanship, during the Yuan Dynasty, this production workshop basically served the government, so there were few remaining product lines. The same was true in the early Ming Dynasty, especially during the Jingtai period, when the court attached great importance to it and the filigree enamel craft developed rapidly. By the end of the Ming Dynasty, the number of utensil products has increased, and many of them have been handed down from generation to generation.
During the great development of cloisonné enamel in the Qing Dynasty, many pieces were handed down from generation to generation. The style of cloisonné enamel during the Kangxi period mostly followed the style of the Ming Dynasty, but the actual production of cloisonné enamel was not large, and the most handed down ones were painted enamels. There were not many filigree enamel products during the Yongzheng period, but the filigree enamel craftsmanship during the Qianlong period was a real period of development and reached its peak. It was not only produced by the palace office, but also in Suzhou, Guangzhou, Yangzhou and other places. Production. During the Qianlong period, ancient painting patterns were also applied to the decoration of filigree enamel, which perfectly combined the enamel technology with the art of painting. The filigree enamel technology and painting enamel technology were very skilled. There were various types of colored glazes, various shapes and varieties, and the glaze colors were gorgeous. Clean, magnificent, and majestic. There were many types of enamelware during the Qianlong period. In addition to continuing to imitate the famous products of the previous dynasty, they also produced large quantities of imitation antique bronzes and Buddhist niches, statues, pagodas, and Buddhist offerings used in religious ceremonies, as well as a large number of daily utensils such as vases and flowerpots. , wash basin, hand warmer, aromatherapy, slag bucket, mirror, hat stand, hanging screen, lamp holder, fish tank, snuff bottle, clock, Ruyi and other decorations, etc. The patterns are also rich and colorful, traditional and exotic, such as passion flower , lotus petals and various Western flowers. Its decorative style ranges from simple and elegant to complicated and intricate, and has been handed down from generation to generation. After Qianlong, the production level of filigree enamel began to decline. There are also fine products handed down, but most of them are rough.
The styles of cloisonné enamel during the Qianlong period were diverse, such as the Beijing style, at the foot of the Imperial City. The production scale was of course large and the quantity was large, making it the most important base for the production of cloisonné enamel in the Qing court. Its style is royal and magnificent, which is different from those produced in other places. Although Yangzhou filigree enamel production often produced products for the imperial court, it had its own style. For example, the enamel color was cooler, the patterns were more varied, the enamel pores were denser, and the filigree filigree was thin, strong, and very smooth.
Article editor: Xinchangyin Art Appraisal Database (public account zh) aims to provide everyone with high-quality art collection and appraisal knowledge, updated every day.