ENAMELLING is the craft of applying powdered glass onto a metal surface (usually copper) and firing it in a kiln. Enamel melts around 800°Centigrade and becomes a glaze on cooling.

CREATING A PLAQUE

The copper wire is bent and placed over an outline cartoon drawing of the design on paper. Meanwhile sheet copper is cut to the required size and prepared for enamelling. Enamel flux is sieved onto the plaque. Using tweezers, the wire design is carefully transferred to the powdered surface and fired. On cooling the wires become fixed to the enamel surface.

Sections or cloisons thus formed are filled with wet enamel paste. The wire 'walls' prevent colours mixing together. It is then fired a second time melting the enamels which turn orange. The plaque is then removed from the kiln but on cooling the actual colours emerge in all their glory.

Enamelling is slow, painstaking work, requiring great skill and patience but the fascination with colour and the jewel-like intensity of the medium is what keeps the artist enthralled.. 

finished enamel plaque