ENAMEL TECHNIQUES

ENAMEL TECHNIQUES

Enamel is a mixture of metal oxides consisting of silicate (the main ingredient in making glass), sodium carbonate (also known as soda ash), potassium oxide, calcium oxide and other metal oxide compounds. to color the enamel. Enameling is the process of melting vitreous enamel at high temperatures to make it adhere tightly to the surface of an item that is usually ceramic or metal (the metal can be copper, silver or gold) to create effects. art product.


Classify


There are many different ways to make enameled products, each enameling technique requires its own unique skill and precision. The most popular techniques are Grand Feu, Cloisonné, Champlevé, grisaille, plique-à-jour, paillonné.


1. Grand Feu: French name meaning "Great Fire" refers to the process of firing enamel at very high temperatures over 800 degrees Celsius to achieve perfection in creating colors and layers of enamel on the surface of the products.

 

2. Cloisonné: is an enamelling technique in which a sketch of the design is drawn directly onto the glass with a pencil and then ultra-thin gold threads are carefully bent, arranged along the lines Sketch. These gold threads are still visible in the finish, separating the different enamel patches, which take on a variety of colors. The enamel additive mixture in Cloisonne is made from powder, mixed and kneaded, put into each pre-made "compartment" and fired in the oven.


3. Champlevé: is an enameling technique in which metal is carved into cells (with an engraving knife) and enamel color is poured into these cells, fired, and after cooling, polished. . The champlevé and cloissoné techniques have opposites, that is: champlevé is a process of "removing" (chiseling, cutting out the metal dial to create enamel compartments), while cloisonné is "adding" (applying elements). microfiber on metal dial).


4. Grisaille: Grisaille is an enamelling technique that creates a white painting on a black background. To do this, the dial is covered with a layer of black enamel and then fired in a kiln several times. The difficulty in this technique is how to create a layer of enamel that is deeply black, smooth and can withstand many firings. This layer is usually softer than traditional enamel layers and is mixed with a special natural essence.


5. plique-à-jour: is a manual decorative technique in enamel used to create transparent enamel patterns without any background. The original name "plique-à-jour" comes from French and means "like light through a window" or "like light through a screen." This technique often creates a transparent glaze effect that resembles window glass.


6. paillonné: Paillonné is described as the technique of applying transparent colored enamel layers on very thin pieces of gold or silver (so thin that the slightest breeze blows away). This technique gives the dial a hazy appearance when it catches light (like a moving fog). Thanks to the transparency of the glaze, this technique imparts shimmering reflections, brilliance and luminosity to the product.