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Enameling: techniques and process

· 1 min read · Techniques

Illustration: Enameling: techniques and process

Vitreous enameling fuses a colored glass powder onto a metal base at around 750-850 °C. Depending on how the base is prepared, techniques with their own names arise.

Steps of the technique: Prepare the metal, Grind the enamel, Apply, Dry, Fire, Repeat and polish
Summary of the steps

Basic steps #

  1. A clean metal base (copper, silver or gold) is prepared.
  2. The enamel is ground and washed, and applied wet or dry.
  3. It is dried and fired in a kiln until the glass melts and smooths out.
  4. It is repeated in layers, cooled and the excess is polished off.

Techniques #

  • Cloisonné: cells made with soldered wire.
  • Champlevé: hollows carved or cast in the metal and filled.
  • Basse-taille: translucent enamel over an engraved relief.
  • Plique-à-jour: enamel without a backing, like stained glass.
  • Painted enamel (Limoges): painting with enamel on a ground.

Counter-enamel #

The back is also enameled to balance the tension and avoid cracks.

Materials #

See enamel as a material. Kiln, sieves, meshes and brushes are the basic tools.

Step by step #

  1. Prepare the metal. Clean and anneal.
  2. Grind the enamel. Wash the powder until the water runs clear.
  3. Apply. Spread a thin, even layer.
  4. Dry. Let it dry completely.
  5. Fire. Put the piece in the kiln at about 800 °C.
  6. Repeat and polish. Apply more layers and polish with a stone.

Tools and materials #

  • Powdered or lump enamel
  • Enameling kiln
  • Brushes and spatulas
  • Counter-enamel

Common mistakes #

  • A thick layer: it chips when fired.
  • Wet enamel in the kiln: it bursts.
  • No counter-enamel: the sheet warps.
  • Uncleaned metal: the enamel does not adhere.

See also #

This entry was drafted with the help of AI and is pending review by the author.