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Plique-à-jour: enamel without a backing

· 1 min read · Techniques

Illustration: Plique-à-jour: enamel without a backing

Plique-à-jour (“letting in daylight”) is enamel that fills cells with no metal backing. With no base, light passes through it, as in a tiny stained-glass window.

Steps of the technique: Pierce the frame, Set a backing, Fill, Fire, Remove the backing, Polish
Summary of the steps

How it is done #

  1. Cells are cut in the metal or a frame of wires is built.
  2. The cells are filled with translucent enamel, held by surface tension.
  3. It is fired carefully and repeated.
  4. It is polished on both sides.

Difficulty #

It is one of the hardest enameling techniques: the glass can break on cooling. That is why the pieces are delicate.

Style #

Closely associated with Art Nouveau (dragonfly wings, leaves), with examples by Lalique and Fabergé.

Care #

It is fragile: avoid knocks and do not clean it in an ultrasonic cleaner.

Step by step #

  1. Pierce the frame. Cut the cells in a sheet or build the frame.
  2. Set a backing. Fix the piece on a mica sheet.
  3. Fill. Fill the cells with transparent enamel.
  4. Fire. Bake carefully.
  5. Remove the backing. Take off the mica or support.
  6. Polish. Smooth both sides.

Tools and materials #

  • Silver or gold frame
  • Transparent enamels
  • Mica sheet or copper support
  • Enameling kiln

Common mistakes #

  • Opaque enamel: it does not let light through.
  • Cells too large: it breaks.
  • Cooling suddenly: it cracks.
  • Removing the support too soon.

See also #

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