The Art Of Cloisonne: How It's Done, And Why Recent Artists Are Making A Killing At It

Cloisonné is an ancient art form that incorporates metal working with enamel pieces and gemstones. It has always been a sign of wealth and stature because of how each piece was crafted and the use of gemstones in some pieces. Cloisonné has had a few revival periods through the ages, but nothing like the current resurgence. Here is more about how this art form is done, and why recent artists are making a killing at it. 

The Difficult Production and Assembly Line

​Cloisonné pieces are created through a series of steps, each with their own technical level of difficulty. The first step is to design an elaborate piece, either for personal decoration or as a home decoration. It should depict some themes or designs from nature, or geological themes with unified symmetry, since these are the "easiest" to design and construct. 

During the next step, the metal works artist takes silver and gold to create the cloisons​, or small box-pockets, for the jewels and/or enamel pieces that will be fitted and secured into the cloisons. The more elaborate the design, the longer it takes the metal works artist to craft every part of the piece and secure all of the pieces together. A basic geometric picture frame, for example, may only take a week or two to craft from precious metals. A much more complicated nature design, such as flowers and vines, will require months, if not more than a year, for the artist to complete. Even then, the piece is nowhere near finished. 

The next step is for the enamel artist to craft the enamel bits. If the artist doing the metal parts is not the same artist doing the enamel bits, then these two artists can work simultaneously on the same piece to complete it faster. Enamel paste is colored, mixed with water, cast and molded to fit the cloisons the metal works artist is busily creating, and then the enamel bits are fired in a kiln to get that beautifully, brilliantly-colored enamel-glass that cloisonné art is known for. 

Finally, the enamel bits and any jewels that the client/consumer wants in the piece are inserted and affixed to the piece. A clear acrylic is applied to the enamel bits to preserve and prevent discoloration and prevent the enamel bits from coming loose and falling out. Everything is polished to a shine. 

Why Artists Are Making a Killing at Cloisonné Once More

​Cloisonné is a dying art. Even with its reemergence of popularity, it is an art form that not many people know how to do, making it a rare thing. Artists and items like Jay Strongwater's picture frames are commanding over a thousand dollars to start, and reaching close to ten thousand dollars for the most elaborate and bejeweled pieces.