To create the decorative surface of cloisonné, thin fillets of flattened wire are bent to form a pattern. The spaces between
To create the decorative surface of cloisonné, thin fillets of flattened wire are bent to form a pattern. The spaces between the wires, called cloisons or cells, are then filled with powdered enamel. The exact origins are unknown, but cloisonné techniques most likely evolved out of related mosaic, stained glass, and jewelry-making practices. Although exceptional pieces of cloisonné exist from Byzantine times, modern craftsmen in China and Japan have further refined the art of mixing the enamel pigments to achieve a spectrum of subtle colors.
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