Enamel is one of the most beautiful and delicate techniques of jewelry. Its age also makes it a classic jewelry. We caught a www.joyeria.us article that seems perfect to illustrate the theme.

Enamel, glass paste that is melted by the action of heat to coat objects such as jewelry, small boxes, ceramic or glass. Chemically identical to glass, is a mixture of silica (quartz or sand), soda or potassium and lead. For these elements are opaque they often add other metal oxides. This article deals with the enamel on metal as an art form.

Technique

In the manufacturing process of enamel, the ingredients are in principle the form of lumps or pellets later reduced to a fine powder. This, dry or mixed with water or oil, is applied by hand on the surface to be coated. The object is baked then in a kiln until the glaze melts on the surface. To ensure consistency of the glaze is necessary a constant temperature, usually 1,000 ° C. The procedures for glazing are five: the field (champlevé), the honeycomb (cloisonné), the relief or translucent enamel (basse taille), the lemon glaze and enamel painted.

Weathered enamel, carved, cast or champlevé

To make this procedure are plotted on the surface of metal, usually copper, a series of grooves that are then filled with powdered enamel. After baking the enamel piece is cut to match it with the metal and, finally, polished set of saffron powder and paint jeweler.

Cloisonné

In the process of cloisonné is done on the metal surface or cloisons tiny divisions, which consist of thin metal strips. Can form a picture and attached to the piece by welding or by the enamel. The divisions or gaps are filled with powdered enamel and the following process is identical to that used for the field. The cloisonné technique is usually applied to silver, but also used as bases gold and copper.

Enamel relief, translucent or basse taille

Taille basse processing is a field type but applied to silver or gold. The metal is engraved or hammered at different depths depending on the design you want to achieve. The grooves are filled with translucent enamel, through which you can see the design.

The lemon glazeThe lemon glaze resembles the honeycombed and differs from it in that the divisions are welded together rather than to the metal base, which is removed after cooking. The enamel layer is translucent produces an effect like stained glass. Fenestrated enamel is especially fragile because it lacks metal base. Just a few examples of the glazes of this type are preserved today.

Painted enamel

The painted enamels, like small oil paintings, traditionally consist of a metal plate that is coated with a layer of white enamel, which was later cooked. The drawing, done with colored glaze is applied on the white base. Cooking is required separately for each pigment, as each melts at a different temperature. At first, colors are applied by painting, but today are sprayed, sprinkled or sifted.

The enamel powder mixed with oil is used to paint miniature portraits decorate clock faces or small objects, such as tobacco that have already been coated with white enamel.

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