Cloisonne art was first created in the ancient Near East in rings and in jewelry of Ancient Egypt, such as gemstones or enamel materials. Cloisonne art expanded to countries in Europe, and other cultures started to add more colors. For instance, Christians added red as a symbol of Christ in the Roman Empire.
Cloisonne art is formed by adding compartments to the artwork by soldering or adhering wires or strips placed on the edges of the artwork. These strips are visible in the finished cloisonne art and often act as a separation of compartments. The wires or strips are often painted different colors.
The artwork is covered with enamel powder and paste and then put in a kiln to be fired. The artwork is normally fused in a kiln at 1,400 F. Depending on the piece, there is a minimum of about eight separate firings per piece of art.
After the firing, the enamel contracts and produces a surface that is uneven. The enamel object is then polished for luster and gilded so that portions are immersed in gold or silver. Although techniques may be used independently, they may also be incorporated in one piece.
There are three main styles used in cloisonne art: concave, convex and flat. Concave cloisonne causes the enamel surface to curve, while convex looks slightly rounded. The flat cloisonne remains the most common and is ground down as a smooth surface.
Over time, the cloisonne art process has changed and, today, the object used in cloisonne art is normally made or purchased prior to completing the enamel process. The metal for the body of the piece is copper; however, bronze, silver or metals can also be used in the cloisonne process. The wire used is normally silver or gold, but fine copper can also be used and is bent into shapes.
Cloisonne is one possible technique implemented for decorative enameling; however, there are other methods like Champleve, Plique-a-jour, Bassitaille and Limoges. These processes use different techniques in treating the object, completing the enamel process and firing.