DOI Heft:
No. 62 (April, 1902)
DOI Artikel:Fisher, Alexander: The art of true enamelling upon metals, [2]
DOI Seite / Zitierlink:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.22773#0134
The Art of True Enamelling
a very strong hand to do this. Go once round on
each line, and then start on a fresh one, until you
get to the outer edge; then take the metal to the
blow-pipe and anneal it, softening the metal by
making it red-hot and then letting it cool. All
metals become hard and springy by hammering,
and are softened by heat. After it is cold you
repeat this process of hammering, until a deep
saucer shape is obtained, then turn it over and put
its edge on a curved stake of iron or steel, shaped
conversely, corresponding to the design, and with
well-regulated blows upon the parts immediately
above the stake, go round it, turning it and beating
it at the same time.
After each course of hammering it is necessary
to anneal it, otherwise it will crack and split up >
then continue to hammer in this way until the
shape is complete. To put a cloisonne pattern
upon this, you proceed in the following manner-
The design is drawn or transferred upon the metal,
and then with a steel point is scratched distinctly
upon it, so that the design may be clearly seen
during subsequent processes. The flat wire must
now be thought of for the cloisons. In cloisonne
enamelling on copper it should be of the hardest
brass; silver wire should be used on silver; the
width of the wire is partly determined by the
character of the design and the aim of the artist,
but one-twentieth of an inch thick commonly
suffices for the boldest work. With round and
flat-nosed pliers the wire is bent to the design
and with half the sum of
these as the radius, we
strike a circle on a piece
of silver or copper of 14
metal gauge, then we de-
scribe a number of con-
centric circles, leaving a
quarter of an inch be-
tween each circumference.
Then the edge of the
metal, slightly tilted on the
sandbag, is held firmly in
the left hand, and with a
well-directed blow you
strike it with the end of
the hammer on the first
line from the centre, then,
while moving it slowly
round at the same angle, the
blows are struck regularly
on this line. It requires
114
ANCIENT CHINESE CLOISONNE ENAMEL POT (Imperial Institute)
a very strong hand to do this. Go once round on
each line, and then start on a fresh one, until you
get to the outer edge; then take the metal to the
blow-pipe and anneal it, softening the metal by
making it red-hot and then letting it cool. All
metals become hard and springy by hammering,
and are softened by heat. After it is cold you
repeat this process of hammering, until a deep
saucer shape is obtained, then turn it over and put
its edge on a curved stake of iron or steel, shaped
conversely, corresponding to the design, and with
well-regulated blows upon the parts immediately
above the stake, go round it, turning it and beating
it at the same time.
After each course of hammering it is necessary
to anneal it, otherwise it will crack and split up >
then continue to hammer in this way until the
shape is complete. To put a cloisonne pattern
upon this, you proceed in the following manner-
The design is drawn or transferred upon the metal,
and then with a steel point is scratched distinctly
upon it, so that the design may be clearly seen
during subsequent processes. The flat wire must
now be thought of for the cloisons. In cloisonne
enamelling on copper it should be of the hardest
brass; silver wire should be used on silver; the
width of the wire is partly determined by the
character of the design and the aim of the artist,
but one-twentieth of an inch thick commonly
suffices for the boldest work. With round and
flat-nosed pliers the wire is bent to the design
and with half the sum of
these as the radius, we
strike a circle on a piece
of silver or copper of 14
metal gauge, then we de-
scribe a number of con-
centric circles, leaving a
quarter of an inch be-
tween each circumference.
Then the edge of the
metal, slightly tilted on the
sandbag, is held firmly in
the left hand, and with a
well-directed blow you
strike it with the end of
the hammer on the first
line from the centre, then,
while moving it slowly
round at the same angle, the
blows are struck regularly
on this line. It requires
114
ANCIENT CHINESE CLOISONNE ENAMEL POT (Imperial Institute)