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By pouring molten glass into
small circles of wire, ancient craftsmen
could imitate gems. From this simple
technique, the art of cloisonné was
developed. The French word 'cloison'
means 'cell' because the design is
created using cells of wire. The European Celts
were the first to develop enamelling as
an art in its own right using a technique
now called champlevé (400 BC). The
French word 'champ' means 'field' and the
word 'levé' means 'raised' because the
design is created using a raised field of
metal. The copper or bronze was engraved
or cast to create depressions in the
metal into which the molten glass was
poured.
The early
Celts, while exposed to many different
cultures (Greek, Etruscan, Scythian,
Roman, etc.), and certainly influenced by
them, nevertheless retained their
individuality. They borrowed ideas and
designs that were congenial to their own
beliefs, and left aside much that did not
interest them. Everything that they
borrowed however, they made their own by
bringing their own unique design sense.
Catherine's
Irish heritage (her father was born in
Limerick) led her to investigate its
history in an attempt to understand the
enduring nature of the culture, and also
its strong appeal to modern man. While
she was first attracted, like most
people, to the beautiful illuminated
manuscripts of the eighth and ninth
centuries AD, she began to realize that
this was only a small part of the design
repertoire of a people whose history
could be traced back to the fifth century
BC. Now, many of Catherine's pieces are
based on much older, simpler and bolder
designs that come from the metalwork of
the fourth century BC to fourth century
AD. She has made a special study of the
history, archaeology and art history of
this period.
For
Catherine the striking feature about
this, and many other so-called
"primitive" cultures, is how
every aspect of life was interconnected.
In modern life music, art and literature
are separated from our daily existence
and life is compartmentalized. In her
work, and in her life Catherine is
attempting to recapture some of that lost
sense of unity.
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