The Art of Cloisonné

Cloisonné is a famous Chinese traditional handicraft.

It first appeared toward the end of the Yuan Dynasty in the Mid-14th Century. 

A 'cloisonné' object has a copper body and its design is formed by gluing copper wire on with vegetable glue. 

Coloured enamel is then filled in with different colours which are kept apart by the copper wire strips. 

After being fired four or five times in an oven, the piece is then polished and gilded into a colourful and gleaming piece of art. 

Cloisonné may take the form of a number of objects or products, such as vases, jars, bowls, plates, boxes, ornaments and ash-trays and always have fabulous designs.

These pictures were taken at the Great Wall Mutianyu, Cloisonné Factory.