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Enamel Pin

June 5th, 2010 admin No comments

Enamel Pin

Cloisonné And Lapel Pins

Cloisonné is profound oriental culture, which influence from can be seen even today. Cloisonné antiques be enjoyed many people along the years, even can be found along with new items in today's market..

Even though the word cloisonné has French origins from the word cloisonné, which means cell, this art form started in Japan and the Byzantine Empire during the sixth century. The Chinese do get recognized for their work in cloisonné art, it appears in the 13th century in China according to the historians.

The Byzantine enamels used gold wire designs. Most of the designs were based on the Byzantine religion which was Christianity. Crosses, saints, and pictures of Christ adorned the early cloisonné pieces. The cloisonné from Japan on the other hand is more flowers, landscapes, and birds. The Chinese chose ornamental decorations and patterns to use in their enamels.

The artists of cloisonné create the enamels in the following fashion. They first come up with the design. It is easy to map one out on graph paper. Then the artist has to solder a wire ring, called a bezel, onto a section of sheet metal; this is to make the enamel cup or base.

Cloisonné enamels are transparent, opaque or opalescent. Each type offers a rainbow of color choices. A single piece might use different types of enamel and different cells might be comprised of various colors. In some ways the art is very similar to painting and, of course, the finished product does actually resemble a painted scene. Enamel is available in chunks or powdered form. Chunks tend to be less expensive but the artisan must then grind this down to powder.

Since there are only a couple metals that may be used with the enamels, choices are typically gold, silver, bronze, zinc-free brass, copper and specially treated aluminum. As cloisonné materials will not be available at the craft store they must be purchased online or through a supply catalogue

Although this is a complicated process, small lapel pins can be made quite inexpensively. However, although the pins are inexpensive, they can be quite beautiful, looking more valuable than they actually are. This trait is a huge plus to a company that wants to give a small gift with Wow power. For this reason, cloisonné lapel pins make excellent promotional giveaways or acknowledgments for contributions.

About the Author

Custom lapel pins by HiLP Lapel Pin manufacturer since 1993.

HiLP one of professional lapel pin manufacturers in China, we've more than ten years' experience in custom made lapel pins, badges, coins and other metal promotional items.