| EARLIEST ENAMELS: The
earliest enamels we know of come from Cyprus
in the 13th c BC. See an article about them
here |
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| ROMAN ENAMELS Enamelling
was practiced in both Greece and Rome in
ancient times. Though much of the Greek
material has been lost, many pieces of Roman
enamelling have been found throughout their
vast empire. Romans developed many
innovations, notably the use of millefiori
glass (literally 'thousand flowers') made by
melting together rods of different colours and
then stretching them to reduce the design) |
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| IRON AGE CELTIC Around
the 3rd c BC Celtic metal smiths began filling
engraved spaces with glass. This technique was
ideal for the bold abstract patterns
typical of Iron Age design, adding the important
element of colour to ritual objects and
beginning a thousand year tradition of
European champlevé For more information on
this period click here |
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| BYZANTINE
The shift of power from Rome to Constantinople
that marked the beginning of the Byzantine era
was characterised by a boom in the arts.
Goldsmiths began developing methods of adding
colour to their work using glass, melting it
directly on to the metal between thin strips
of soldered wire. This technique is now called
'cloisonné'. For more information on this
period click here |
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| EARLY MEDIEVAL While
Eastern goldsmiths were developing cloisonné,
the Western traditions of champlevé were
being continued and developed. The aesthetic
values of the pagan Anglo Saxon and Viking
cultures were carried over into the new
religious objects, as these peoples were
converted to Christianity. For more
information on Viking Art click here. For
Anglo-Saxon Art click here |
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| MEDIEVAL The
beautiful gold cloisonnés of Byzantium
flooded the west after Constantinople was
sacked during the 4th Crusade, creating a
market for small religious objects. Local
craftsmen were inspired and stimulated by
these new ideas, but found less expensive and
time consuming ways of producing the objects,
drawing on their long honed skills in champlevé. |
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| LATE MEDIEVAL |
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| PAINTED ENAMELS |
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| GRISAILLE |
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| LIMOGES |
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| DEVELOPMENT OF LIMOGES |
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| GERMAN |
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| SWISS |
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| FABERGE |
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| PLIQUE-A-JOUR |
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