Chinese Cloisonne Vase

From the French word cloison, meaning to separate, the techniques of cloisonné involve using wire or metal dividers to separate the various colors of enamel that lie on a metal base. Thought to have originated in the Middle East, the technique spread through the Byzantine Empire and then into Asia. The metal base of a cloisonné piece is layered with compartments that originally held either a powder of crushed gemstone or crushed glass to create the enamel. The piece is then kiln-fired several times in order to force the powder to melt and spread into the cloisons, although divisions between enamel colors are not always marked by metal. The pieces are then highly polished.

During the Ming dynasty in China (though some argue it was earlier), artisans began using cloisonné techniques in their own creations. It became popular in Japan around the 16th century. In both countries, new techniques were developed to refine the techniques and create a finer finished product. Common items would have been found in a temple or as palace decorations, but eventually, they were used in a wide variety of decorative metal items such as vases, boxes, jewelry, sword handles and scabbards, and figurines to name a few. Often focusing on natural subjects, the pieces usually depict birds, animals, or natural elements like wind.