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Eternal India
encyclopedia
through the removal of parts of a copper plate, literally "removed
field."
The Cloisonne technique is more linear and, therefore, has a
more rigid effect. In the Champleve technique there is relatively,
freedom of design, however, the greater thickness of the Cloisonne
wall permits the use of gold or silver foils.
The Bassettaille or translucid enamel method belongs to the
painted enamel technique, obtained when low relief etching is
accomplished on a plate in gold, silver or copper. Painted enamel,
which generally is in a pictorial format, may be transparent or
opaque. Commonly copper is used as the base metal. However,
foils of gold or silver can also be used over or in between the layers
of enamels which,- when completed, gives a unique aesthetic ap-
peal.
The dyes used in enamel are different metal oxides which,
naturally react in different ways to fire. Thus, care has to be taken
and one starts with the colours with a higher degree of fusion which
are translucid and interact for reflection. The colours, which melt at
lower temperatures, are used last.
In the early times, enamel was used to decorate models, belt
buckles, pendants, jewellery, knife handles, tiny boxes to store
precious stones etc. By the 12th century, the enamel technique was
perfected and refined with the introduction of the Champleve
method. The French school of Limoges had become famous even
during the 12th century. Almost simultaneously Rhine-Maas dis-
tricts too began to flourish in enamel art.
Towards the second half of the 15th century, painted enamels
were successfully produced.
It was at Limoges that the technique of painted enamel quickly
caught on. People began to buy enamel paintings. Enamel artists
were given commissions. During the 16th century in Italy, enamels
were produced mostly in the workshop at Florence under De
Medici's influence. In the 17th century the technique of enamelling
was widely used throughout Europe for both religious and personal
objects. Gradually during the course of the 18th century, enamel
became an important medium for the decoration of small objects,
bracelets, jewellery boxes, ash trays etc.
From the beginning of this century there has been a change.
The enamels of the 20th century are made with especially inventive
combinations. During recent decades jewellery enamels have fre-
quently been used for interior and exterior decoration. In the years
around 1960 architectured enamels were emerging for whole mu-
rals to decorate buildings. Table ware like bowls, boxes and
pictures were made besides jewellery. Apart from these items,
sculptures with enamel paintings were also produced. In Italy the
greatest enamellist of this century, maestro Paolo De Poli, in
collaboration with the great designer, Gio Ponti, began to produce
unique enamel pieces of both functional and artistic characteristics.
Great painters like Gino Severini and sculptors like Marcello
Mascherini were the other collaborators with De Poli.
(B.N.)