Beijing is the cradle of cloisonné technique. Cloisonné is a famous traditional enamel ware, known as the “Blue of Jingtai” in China, with a history of over 500 years. It was so called because “blue” was the typical color used for enameling and “Jingtai” was the reign title of the 7th Ming Emperor. Enamel ware became very popular during the Emperor’s reign.
There is a great variety of products, such as vase, jar, bowl, plate, box and ash-tray. They are brilliant in colors and splendid in design. Cloisonné is one of the famous arts and crafts of Beijing. Base-hammering, copper-strip inlay, soldering, enamel-filling, enamel-firing, polishing and gilding, the making of cloisonné requires rather elaborate and complicated processes. The products are featured by excellent quality.
The skill and workmanship have been handed down from the Ming Dynasty. Quite a number of new varieties have been created. It enjoys a high reputation both at home and abroad. Built in 1956, the cloisonné factory is the biggest in China with 6 workshops and 1,800 workers. The monthly average wage for a worker is 150 yuan. Apart from wage, each worker can get bonus averaging 90 yuan per month.
The workers work 6 days a week and 8 hours a day, and enjoy free medical treatment. Men retire at the age of 60, women at 55. After retirement, they can get a pension according to their working age. The factory runs a kindergarten and a nursery.
The “Beijing Enamel Brand” cloisonné wares are made in this factory. They take up over 70 percent of cloisonné wares produced in China. With a registered trade mark Jingfa, the products won an honorable title of renowned product in Beijing in 1975. They were conferred the title of “top quality product” by the Ministry of Light Indus-try in 1979, and again won the prize of the National Hundred-Flower Golden Cup in 1981. In the factory there is a gift shop for visitors.
The Cloisonné Process
The word "Cloisonné" is used to describe both a finished art object, and a process. Cloisonné is a labor-intensive craft involving a complex multi-step enamel process, that can produce stunning results.
Step 1: Base Hammering
The "canvas" for a Cloisonné pattern is made of copper. A coppersmith will fashion the malleable copper into a roughcast (jewelry piece, vessel, or similar art object) by hammering and/or stretching the material into the required shape.
