Cloisonné is a French word meaning enclosed or cloistered. It is the name given to the ancient art of decorating metal objects using vitreous enamel and in earlier times, precious stone inlays.

The technique consists of creating compartments (cloisons in French) on metal objects by soldering or glueing silver or gold wires or thin strips placed on their edges. These remain visible in the finished piece.  These cloisons are filled with  coloured enamel powder which has been made into a paste and the item is then fired in a kiln.

Cloisonné first developed in the jewelry of Ancient Egypt, especially in the jewellery of the Pharaohs. In Egypt gemstones and enamel-like materials sometimes called "glass-paste" were both used. The technique spread throughout the Middle East and the Roman Empire.  Designs had fairly thick cloisons walls and designs were mainly geometric with limited use of colour.  In the 8th century, Byzantine art began using thinner wire and designs became more elaborate.

By the 14th century the technique had spread to China where, being foreign, it was regarded with suspicion at first. But by the 18th century there were cloisonné workshops among the imperial factories. The most elaborate and highly-valued Chinese pieces are from the early Ming Dynasty, especially the reigns of the Xuande Emperor and Jingtai Emperor (1450-57).

Today, this technique is used mainly for jewellery and smaller decorative items.  We find the beautiful beads very hard to resist – we feel sure that you will too.
 

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