Cloisonne, also known as Jingtailan
is a unique art form originated in Beijing.
Cloisonne is also enamel, which flourished and reached it's peak of development
during the reign of Ming emperor Jingtai (1450 - 1457). As the objects were mostly
in blue color, Cloisonne came to be called jingtailan - jingtai Blue
in Chinese.
One needs to go through more than 30 procedures to make a Cloisonne, 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 hair; the inlay pattern is then filled in by enamel
glaze material in defferent 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 Cloisonne with unique national character was invented,
it was mainly used as elegant ornaments in imperial palaces of Ming and Qing dynasties.
At the World Expo of 1904 held in Chicago, Beijing Cloisonne won the first
prize. The earliest Cloisonne articles reserved till now are products in
the period of Xuande during Ming Dynasty.
Some Cloisonne articles are made in forms of vases, jars and boxes; others
are designed for ornamental purposes, adding extra beauty to things that are useful,
such as vases, lamps, cigarette cases, wine jars, tea sets, etc. Nowaday, Cloisonne
articles have been exported around the world.
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