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CLOISONNE TECHNIQUE

My pieces for the most part use the cloisonné enamel technique – a visually alluring technique used for more than a thousand years, with its origins in the Byzantium Empire. 

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Each cloisonné enamel piece begins with a metal base; either copper or fine silver. I then bend fine silver wires into shapes to create small cells (partitions) of designs called cloisons. Each small silver compartment from this design – is carefully placed on the metal surface. 

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I then begin to apply a layer of finely ground glass enamel in each cloison, which I then fire in a special kiln.

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I repeat this process up to twelve times, each firing adding to the work’s thickness and each firing altering what was previously visible. 

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When the painted enamel layer reaches just above the height of the silver cloisons, I polish the piece, using progressively finer sandpaper, until the work achieves a uniform level of enamel and partitions – giving the piece its particular luster.

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