This year, I decided to set aside some time to work in cloisonne enamel. I documented my journey with photographs as I balanced the technical demands of the medium with my natural inclination to experiment. I didn’t start out with a sketch or a drawing, but I did know I wanted to create a floral design. Here’s how it went:
I began by hammer-texturing sheet copper and giving the shapes a gentle domeFirst coat of enamel along with the wires and fine silver foil.Adding colors, layer by layer. I think I fired these pieces more than a dozen times.More colors, this is close to complete.After I finished added colors, I wet-sanded the glass back down to an even, smooth surface. The dull areas are higher and glossy areas haven’t been touched by the sanding belt yet. After griding the enamel down, it got a final fire polish, where I melted the glass just enough to give it a nice gloss. The next step is to make the sterling necklace links and settings.I laid out sterling silver flattened wire so that each lobe of the pear shape enamel will have two prongs. After soldering the prongs and bending them upright, I adjusted the setting to match the enamel. Then, I placed it into the setting and bent the prongs over to hold it in place.Here, I have two enamels finished with the prongs secured and polished. The bottom center piece has the prongs bent forward, ready to cut. The top center piece is not set yet.The finished necklace showing the sterling chain links and clasp.The cloisonne adventure complete, necklace ready for sale.
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