Cloisonné
Cloisonné, also known as Jingtai Blue, is an ancient technique used to decorate metal works. The word “cloisonné”, comes from the French word, “cloison”, which means partition. Metal pieces are used to create partitions of the surface of an object. And enamel is then cast into those partitions. Chinese craftsmen are well known for producing some of the best cloisonné works in the world. There’s an interesting story about how cloisonné become popular. During the first year of the Yuan dynasty, there was a fire in the imperial palace. Most of the treasures were damaged, but the vase with the technique of cloisonné’s remained unharmed. The emperor considered it a precious gift, and asked all the craftsmen in the capital city to learn how to make it. The early enamels used on cloisonné were mainly blue. However, the name Jingtai Blue was not used until the Qing dynasty. During the Ming dynasty, especially under the rule of emperor Mingtai, cloisonné techniques reached their peak in China. Cloisonné wares became a key part of imperial supplies. These works, known for their thick copper base, bold metal wires, bright colors, and intricate designs of dragon flowers and symbols, demonstrated the exceptional skills and the innovations of Ming craftsmen. Some experts and collectors of cloisonné antiques believe that the cloisonné made in the middle of the Ming era, particularly in the Jingtai period and afterwards, was the best ever made in the world. During the Qing dynasty, the production scale of cloisonné was expanded, and the technology was improved. The types of cloisonné also increased. And the design became more diverse. In this period, gold was first used to make cloisonné decorations, and cloisonné furniture began to appear. Cloisonné artwork on gold objects was highly valued by the Qing court. Cloisonné has transcended its functional purpose and evolved into a treasure of Chinese artistic legacy. Its beauty has fascinated the world for centuries. Today, it still stands as a testament to the country’s enduring craftsmanship of the highest order.
景泰蓝（Cloisonné），又称“掐丝珐琅”，是一种用于装饰金属器物的古老工艺。“Cloisonné”一词源自法语 cloison，意为“隔间”。在制作过程中，工匠先用金属丝在器物表面分隔出若干区域，再将珐琅釉料填入其中烧制成形。中国工匠以制作世界上最精美的景泰蓝作品而闻名。
关于景泰蓝的兴起，还有一段颇具传奇色彩的故事。元朝初年，皇宫曾发生一场大火，大量珍贵器物被焚毁，唯有一只采用景泰蓝工艺制作的花瓶完好无损。皇帝因此将其视为珍宝，并下令京城工匠学习这一技艺。早期景泰蓝所使用的珐琅釉色以蓝色为主，但“景泰蓝”这一名称直到清代才正式确立。
在明代，尤其是明景泰年间，景泰蓝工艺在中国发展到鼎盛阶段，成为宫廷用品的重要组成部分。这一时期的作品以铜胎厚重、掐丝粗犷、色彩明艳著称，常见龙纹、花卉及吉祥纹饰，充分展现了明代工匠卓越的技艺与创新能力。许多景泰蓝文物研究者和收藏家认为，明代中期，特别是景泰年间及其之后所制作的景泰蓝，是世界上工艺水准最高的作品。
进入清代后，景泰蓝的生产规模不断扩大，工艺技术进一步提升，器物种类更加丰富，装饰风格也趋于多样化。这一时期首次将黄金用于景泰蓝装饰，并出现了景泰蓝家具。饰有景泰蓝的金器深受清代宫廷珍视。
时至今日，景泰蓝早已超越了实用器物的范畴，演变为中国珍贵的艺术瑰宝。其独特之美数百年来令世人赞叹不已，至今仍作为中国高超工艺与卓越匠心的有力见证，熠熠生辉。