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I have been making my cloisonne beads since 1996 in a variety of methods with fine silver and wires of fine silver or 24K gold for the designs. My method of fusing two domed halves of fine silver requires fewer metalsmithing skills than the other methods I use, which is why I have chosen to explain this one. Although I currently create my beads the way I describe here, the door is always open for experimentation....
(2004) Complete Story
Who has not dreamt of that nobly shaped chalice, enameled all over with immaculate transparents... maybe just one fine gold line winding around its outside... so elegantly understated, so utterly simple... That is poetry. It would neither work nor last. A chalice has to withstand very hard use, and maybe even abuse. It must be carefully planned. That is why I have made this cup a teaching example. [Step by step with illustrations].... (1986) Complete Story
In the late 20s, a small enamel tray, made in China, introduced us to the word cloisonne. The material looked like the granite ware in our kitchen. Obviously the wires were used to keep the colors separated. Then, cloisonne was enamel with wires separating the colors. Simplicity, pure and simple. This is where the majority of the general public leaves the subject, little knowing or caring about its rich history.... (1995) Complete Story
In the conditions of world globalization, a big part of modern mankind realized how important human ties are to their roots. Once neglected traditions today acquire vital importance. People search for and go back to old traditions, create and implement new ones, which time will give their proper places in the processes of the development of mankind. Georgia, with its spiritual and material treasures, occupies a very significant place in the world culture. We have not mentioned spiritual and material culture accidentally, as the story that we are going to tell unites in itself both of these two concepts and perfectly ties them to each other. This is Georgian cloisonne enamel, which according to the survived earliest examples counts at least twelve hundred years of existence.... (2004) Complete Story
Susan Demski and I have developed a cloisonne technique for our jewelry, which ranges in size from 1/4" dia. to about 4" x 5". Our pieces are enameled on fine silver with gold cloisonne wire and then set in karat gold. For the enameling, we use 22 ga for earrings and 20 ga for most other pieces. We prefer the fine silver because it is a bright, neutral color that does not oxidize. Our enamels require from 15 to 20 firings. We start with an exact color drawing. We either cut the shape from the drawing with table shears or....
(2002) Complete Story
