Cloisonné

Cloisonné wares are the outstanding handicrafts in China. The production processes of cloisonné wares are painstaking and complicated. Cloisonné is an enamel ware, in which the colors of the design are kept apart by thin metal strips. Major work processes include: making the red-copper roughcast, forming patterns on the roughcast with thin copper strips, filling patterns with enamel of different colors, firing, and polishing. The making of Cloisonné integrates bronze and porcelain-working skills, traditional painting and etching. It is the pinnacle of traditional Chinese handicraft. It has several hundred years of history. Beijing is where Cloisonné making originated. The earliest extant Cloisonné was made in the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368).The best was made during the Xuande period

(1426-1456) of the Ming dynasty. During the Jingtai period (1426-1456) of the Ming Dynasty, it became more popular, handicrafts men found a dark-blue enamel which gave Cloisonné a gorgeous, solemn look, the technique turned to be quite mature. As the blue color was mostly used, so it is called Jingtai blue, and is still used today.
In Beijing as well as other cities, most shops in hotels as well as tourist stores sell Cloisonné articles, which can be as big as sacrificial utensils, screens tables and chairs, and as small as chopsticks, earrings, candy boxes, toothpicks and smoking tools. They are works of art as well as articles with use value. Handicraftsmen have of late developed a multi-coloring technique for the making of Cloisonné which has resulted in more refined and gorgeous products.