Cloisonné also called enamel ware
is the local handicraft in Beijing. It first appeared in the Yuan
Dynasty and was greatly developed during the Jingtai reign (1450-1459A.D)
of Ming Dynasty. It is called "Jingtailan" in Chinese
because the name followed the emperor’s reign title "Jingtai".
For the word “Lan”, it means blue; this is because the handicrafts
produced at that time were mainly glazed with such colors as sapphire
blue, malachite blue, and turquoise blue. There are many various
cloisonné products. So far as the shapes are concerned, there are
traditional burners, tripods, plates, and vases. The newly created
ones are as flowerpots, lamps, smoking sets, stationery, tableware,
globe, and other ornaments with the designs such as landscape, birds,
flowers, fruits, animals as well as figurines. With beautiful colors
and various designs, the cloisonné products look very splendid and
elegant. It is very complicated to make cloisonné. The finished products
take several steps as follows: The first step is body making. The material used
for making the body is copper, because copper is easily hammered
and stretched. This step requires a sound judgment in shaping and
uniformity of the thickness and weight. It is in fact the work of
the copper smith. For the cloisonné craftsman when an article is
well shaped, his work is just on the start. The second step is filigree soldering. This step
requires great and high creativeness. The craftsman adheres with
copper strips onto the body. These strips are of 1/16 inch in diameter
and of different lengths as the artisan needs. The strips of filigree
thus adhered make 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
copper body. The third step is to apply the color, known as
“enamel filling”. The color or enamel is like the glaze on the ceramics.
It is called “Falang”. Its basic elements are boric acid, saltpeter
and alkaline. Due to the difference of the minerals added, the colors
differ 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. In time of filling, all the colors
ground beforehand into minute powder and contained in plates, placed
in front of the workers. Then they will be applied to the little
compartments separated by filigree. The fourth step is enamel firing. That is to put
the articles with its enamel fillings to kiln of 900 degrees centigrade.
After a short moment the copper body will turn red and the enamel
in little compartments will sink down a little bit. That will require
a refilling. This process will repeat until the little compartments
are finally fully 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 polish once more
with whetstone, finally using a piece of hard carbon to polish again
so as to obtain some luster on the surface of the article. The sixth step is gilding. To place the article
in fluid of gold or silver and to add electric current the exposed
parts of the filigree and the metal fringes of the article will
be smoothly and evenly gilded. After that the metal part of the
article will not get rusty. Then the article will undergo another
electroplating and a slight polish. Beijing is the best place to purchase cloisonné because
it is the local handicraft. I can bring you to Beijing Enamel Factory
where you can visit their workshop and do shopping.
Filigree
Soldering
Enamel
Filling
Enamel
Firing
Cloisonne
Vase
Here are some cloisonne
handicrafts on sale if you have interest please contact me.
Cloisonne Plate (1-3), diameter
18.5cm. Each piece costs 135USD including shipping.Cloisonne Pumpkin,
12cm high, 15cm in diameter, it costs 100USD including shipping.
If you want different size please let me know.
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professional tour guide in Beijing. If you or your friends need
private tour guide service when visit Beijing please contact me.
With me you will have an interesting cultural tour and different
experience in Beijing. Appreciate you can pass my contact to your
friends.
Tour guide Richard
Email:chinasilkrug@msn.com
Phone: 0086-13501103837
Wechat Number:13501103837