Enamel is coloured glass, crushed to a fine, sand-like consistency. It is then fused onto a metal surface (gold, silver, copper, or steel) at temperatures of around 800°C. Enamels may be transparent or opaque.
It is often used on steel for practical purposes, such as baths, cookers and architectural cladding. On precious metals it is used for its decorative qualities, most notably its brilliance and colour.
Several different techniques of applying the enamel have evolved over the centuries, each with their own distinct qualities. The art of enamelling has a long history, with some evidence of enamelled jewellery having been made as far back as the sixth century BC.
It is often used on steel for practical purposes, such as baths, cookers and architectural cladding. On precious metals it is used for its decorative qualities, most notably its brilliance and colour.
Several different techniques of applying the enamel have evolved over the centuries, each with their own distinct qualities. The art of enamelling has a long history, with some evidence of enamelled jewellery having been made as far back as the sixth century BC.
Enamel Techniques
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Basse-TailleDeveloped in Italy in the eleventh century, basse-taille uses transparent enamels, allowing the metal base to be seen through the enamel. This base has been carved, chased, or engraved with a pattern to give variations in depth of colour in the enamel, and also reflects light back to give a rich and lively effect.
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ChamplêvéThe Celts of Northern Europe developed this technique. Instead of laying metal wires on top of a metal base to form an area to take the enamel, depressions were formed by carving out areas of the metal, to be filled with enamel. Bronze and copper were used originally, although silver and gold are now also used.
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CloisonnéThis style of enamel work originally developed in the Mediterranean area. Ribbons of gold wire were soldered onto a gold base to form cells that were then filled with ground enamel, which was then fused into place. Modern cloisonné is more often carried out on a silver or copper base, using wires of gold, silver or copper alloys.
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Plique à jourSimilar in effect to a stained glass window, in the technique of plique à jour the enamel is held within a framework of metal, with no backing of metal behind the enamel. Developed in the fourteenth century, it is a technically demanding technique, producing beautiful but somewhat fragile results.
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Painted EnamelsA seventeenth century innovation, painting enamels use a finely ground enamel, or alternatively, metal oxides overglazes. These are mixed with an oil-based medium and painted onto a pre-prepared, smooth, fired enamel surface; the detail and depth of colour being built up over several firings. Battersea enamels were developed in the mid-1700s, using engraved plates to produce a printed transfer of metal oxide overglazes. This transfer was then fired onto a pre-enamelled item. Similarly made items are still produced commercially today.
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