[Jewelry making - Article 00710] - [Orchid] [Tidbits] Smelzan, Esmail, Smalto Enamel

[Benjamin Mark]

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    From Smelzan to Esmail to Smalto to Enamel ... to a Duck. 

    The original word in High German was Smelzan which became Esmail in
    Old French and Smalto in current Italian and Enamel in English ...
    which is easily far and  away more than most would want to know in
    regards to the origins of the word: Enamel. Never-the-less ... there
    it is. 

    And while the earliest known enameled objects date back to 13th
    century BC Cyprus ... today we shoot forward in time and enter the
    world of the Cloisonn=E9 technique ... a method of enameling which
    which can trace its source back to the aforementioned ancient times. 

    Cloisonn=E9: An enameling technique where strips of metal are attached
    to a base in order to form a network of raised cells which will
    border the areas where different colors of enamels will form a
    pattern from which diffusion will be prevented by the cells
    (cloisons). In the end ... the only visible area  of the cloisons
    will be the thin veins forming the networked pattern within the
    enamel. 

    As to who perfected the technique ... I very much doubt there's a
    country on this earth that will not lay claim to being a major
    influence to this technique. The Chinese think they perfected it.
    The Russians think they did. The Middle Easterners say it's them.
    And let us not leave out the English and the French. However ... all
    that said ... it was the great artists of the modern age whose names
    became synonymous with the Cloisonn=E9 method of enameling ... not the
    least of which was dear old Faberg=E9. 

    And so we come to the tale of a duck.  The year: 1900. The place:
    St. Petersburg, Russia. Faberg=E9 moves into a new establishment which
    contains living quarters for himself and his family ... a shop ...
    and craft studios in which his employees could ply their trade. It
    was here that Faberg=E9 created his "Kovsh" ... the name for a
    traditional Russian drinking vessel ... which he made into the form
    of a stylized duck ... a gold plated silver masterpiece decorated in
    Cloisonn=E9 enamel. It is a sight and a half folks. 

    For those of you who are new to this thing called Tidbits...may I
    direct you to my home page at www.tyler-adam.com where you will
    scroll down the left side menu till you get to the area that says
    Tidbits Graphics ... and then click on the link that says: Kovsh ...
    where you will see a graphic of a magnificent drinking vessel . 

    And there ya have it. That's it for this week folks. Catch you all
    next week. Benjamin Mark 

TYLER-ADAM CORP.--Jewelry Manufacturers
Tel -- 1-800-20-TYLER
E-Mail: webmaster AT tyler-adam.com


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