The cloisonné enamel history

Where and when the first enameling was made, i.e. compounding of colored glass with metal, no one exactly knows. In Mycenae (Greece) there were found metal items with soldered glass plates, having painted in dark blue color, and having made between 1425-1300 B.C. These adornments are considered to be most ancient of well-known finds.

In the Vth century B.C. Celtic tribes, having settled a part of France and Britain, a complete different enamel type was evolved – champlevé enamel on bronze. At first, there was fused opaque red glass only, which was used instead of widespread coral insert element that time.

Technological and science expansion caused the uprising of the Byzantium highest perfection cloisonné enamel, in the VIIIth century, which was firstly used not as an instrument of precious stones imitations, but as independent artistic device out of any connection with the past.

Classical models of enamel are considered to be the Byzantium ones, but completely different in producing Celtic-Roman champlevé enamels having been created 500 years before.

Precious metals processing achieved the high top of development in Byzantium of late Antiquity. Unprecedented luxury was flourished by that time. Byzantium churches and palaces, especially in the capital Constantinople, were inlaid with gold mosaic. Sacred vessels, interior items and decoration of ruling classes were luxurious, as well.

The Byzantium enamel was developing in a completely new role – as a visual method. Severe and solemn icons in dynamic sequence and in splendor of gold background were completely abstracted from reality practice.

The Byzantium experience significantly influenced on enamel technique development in Europe. New   enameling ways appeared, including the most widespread enamel technique today – painted enamel (Frey wille, Rostov enamel, etc.). Anew champlevé enamel technique began to live in association with its different directions: guilloche enamel, enamel on casting, but unfortunately original classical enamel technique, cloisonné enamel, was forgotten. The cause is labor intensity and complexity of cloisonné enamel technique.