THE CRAFT · 工艺
Witness the making — from wire to wonder.
These crafts took generations to develop. Understanding how they are made is the first step to truly seeing them.
CLOISONNÉ ENAMEL · 掐丝珐琅
600 Years of Fired Gold
Cloisonné Enamel originated in the imperial workshops of the Ming Dynasty, where master artisans developed techniques that have been passed down through generations. Each piece requires meticulous handwork and multiple firings to achieve its luminous beauty.
01
掰丝 · Wire Bending
Thin copper wires are carefully bent by hand to create intricate patterns and designs that will form the outline of the artwork.
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02
粘丝 · Wire Adhering
The bent wires are meticulously adhered to the metal base using special adhesive, creating compartments for the enamel.
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03
点蓝 · Enamel Filling
Colored enamel paste is carefully applied into each compartment, requiring precision and a steady hand to achieve perfect color distribution.
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04
烧蓝 · Firing
The piece is fired in a kiln at high temperatures, transforming the enamel paste into brilliant, glass-like colors. This process is repeated multiple times.
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05
磨光 · Polishing
The final step involves careful polishing to reveal the smooth, lustrous surface and vibrant colors that characterize fine cloisonné enamel.
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THREAD FLOWERS · 缠花
A flower wound from silk.
Cǎnhuā is the ancient Chinese art of wrapping coloured silk thread around an iron wire frame to create flowers that never wilt. Born in the Tang Dynasty, each flower is built petal by petal — wound in tight, overlapping spirals with extraordinary fidelity to nature.
