Enamel is a mixture of silica, potash and soda. By fusing these different components at high temperature and then pulverizing them, one obtains a colourless powder or “flux”, wich is closer to crystal than to glass.

One colours this powder by adding metallic oxides. The resulting mixture is applied to a metal base, or trivet. Gold, silver, bronze, copper or steel may be used as base for an enamelled piece.

The art of the enameller consist in fixing the powder enamel to its metal base with a series of short firings, at approximately 800°C.

The terms « enamel »; or « enamels » are used only in reference to the vitrifiable products of fusing, vitrification or frittage of mineral substances. Such products are destined to form, whether in one or more layers, a vitreous coating baked at a temperatuer of at least 500° C”. (Quoted from decree n° 82-233 of 2-25-1982, journal officiel of the french Republique).

Painted enamel

Frist, both sides of the metal plate are covered with colourless enamel or flux, and the piece is fired. This way, the reverse is protected from deterioration, and the right side is made ready for decoration. Then, the layers of coloured enamel are applied with a spatula, and each layer is fired, in order to fix the colour.

Verifiable colours, finally ground in order to be brushed on, can be used to accentuate certain details. Likewise, thin gold or silver leaf, called “foil”, can be imbedded in the enamel, to give the colours more lustre.

Grisaille or Chequering

Derived from painted enamel, this technique consists in superimposing white enamel on black. Using very fine tools, the artists scrapes the enamel to obtain a wide scale of greys, particularly suitable for portrait making.

Champlevé Enamel (from : lever le champ)

Depending on the form of decoration, burins and scorpers are used to cut grooves into the surface of the metal. Wet sand-powder enamel is poured into the grooves and undergoes a series of firings. Successive polishings will eliminate any surplus of enamel and will make the place glossy. As a result, the coloured section are surrounded by the metal partitions that were spared by the tools, hence the term of “blackline” enamelling, which is sometimes used in reference to this technique. Gilding by electrolysis gives the piece its final appearance, and makes it resistant to determination.

A variant of this process, called pseudo-champlevé can also be used. Two metal plates are fixed back to back. One of them is previously pierced and perforated to meet the requirements of the design, and the other is meant for the background. All the coloured elements of the decoration are lodged in the holes, as in the regular “champlevé” technique.

Cloisonne Enamel

One solders this strips of gold, silver or copper, set on edge, onto a metal base, creating a network of partitions that will keep the different colours in place. The methods used for the enamelling and the finishing of the piece are the same as in the champlevé technique.

Basse-taille Enamel

The base-plate undergoes one of various processes, such as engraving, hammering or chasing.Translucent enamels are then baked onto the prepared base, creating mysterious, iridescent effects.

Plique Enamel

The plate is pierced at the places where the coloured enamel is to go. After baking, the enamel is visible on both sides of the plate. The effect is similar to that of a stained-glass window, but on a much smaller scale.