Vintage History: Cloisonné
What is cloisonné and how is it pronounced? Cloisonné is a French word meaning “to be compartmentalized” or “to be cut off from others” and is pronounced kla-sun-ay or kloy-sun-ay (depending on which pronunciation site you use). It is an ancient art of using brass (or copper or bronze) and enamel wires to create beautiful designs. Thin strips of brass are laid out in a pattern over a larger surface then the empty spaces (called cloisons) are filled in with colorful enamel. The enamel is applied, baked, and reapplied until the surface is mostly smooth, then polished to a high shine.
Though historians believe the art originated in the Middle East or the West, cloisonné became most popular in China and later, in Japan. The techniques used can be traced to ancient Egypt, Rome, and Greece. One legend says its popularity began during the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368) in China. After a fire in the imperial palace, the only treasure left undamaged was a vase. The emperor believed it being intact was a sign from the gods and asked all craftsmen in the capital city to learn the technique. Many did, and cloisonné became an art of the royal culture.
Cloisonné’s popularity peaked during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), when it became known as “jingtailan” or “jingtai blue” after Emperor Jingtai (1449-1457) because much of the work included blue enamel. Chinese cloisonné themes include dragons, flowers, and other nature-based designs while Japanese-style features birds, leaves, dragons, and other themes similar to period fabric art. Much of what’s easily found (and affordable) these days in antique shops dates from the Qing Dynasty (1664-1911), though experts say the craftsmanship from this later period is less than that from earlier dynasties. Cloisonné is still made today, though it is often mass-produced and much lower quality than vintage and antique pieces.
China-made cloisonné usually involves blue or teal enamel, especially on the base—put there to strengthen the piece—and a “Ruyie border,” or small upside-down cloverleaves repeated at the top and bottom. Pieces made for export from 1897-1921 have “China” on the base (spelling varies) or are blank. An imperial seal indicates it was produced earlier—except for 1912-1921 when cloisonné pieces featured both the imperial seal and the word “China.” Paper labels became popular after 1921, and many have been lost to time. Chinese cloisonné produced between 1850 and 1950 has a copper base that was gilded with gold—when the gold wears away, the copper becomes visible.
You can find examples of cloisonné in our Hearth Witch Altar Set, Spring Flowers Theme. All pieces in this set are in the Chinese style. Thought their patterns are similar, their eras vary (see product details).
