An enameling technique where thin metal strips (cloisons) are soldered to a metal surface to create compartments, which are then filled with colored enamel and fired. The metal strips remain visible as outlines in the finished piece.
From French 'cloisonné,' meaning 'partitioned,' from 'cloison' (partition) derived from Latin 'clausio' (enclosure). The term describes how thin metal walls create separate compartments or partitions for different colored enamels.
Chinese cloisonné reached incredible sophistication during the Ming Dynasty, with artisans creating pieces so intricate they contained thousands of tiny enamel cells in a single vase! The technique spread along the Silk Road, and each culture - Byzantine, Islamic, Japanese - developed distinctive color palettes and motifs that make their work instantly recognizable.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.