Cloisonné: One piece of cloisonné is worth ten pieces of imperial kiln ceramics.

The Origin and Development of Cloisonne

Cloisonne has always been regarded as a national treasure and the top of the four famous crafts in Beijing. It is listed among the eight wonders of Yanjing. In 1904, at the St. Louis World's Fair, Chinese Cloisonne won the first prize, thus gaining great fame and receiving widespread love and appreciation from all over the world.

Cloisonne originated in Dadu City (now Beijing) during the Yuan Dynasty and flourished during the Jingtai period of the Ming Dynasty (1450-1457 AD). Cloisonne in the Ming and Qing dynasties was mainly used for daily royal life, and during the Kangxi and Qianlong periods, the types and uses of cloisonne further increased, with more practical utensils appearing.

However, among the 1.86 million treasures in the Palace Museum, there are only over 6,000 pieces of cloisonne, which shows its preciousness and rarity. The production process of cloisonne is complex, requiring 108 manual processes and incorporating various crafts such as bronze, porcelain, and enamel, making it the epitome of traditional Chinese craftsmanship.

Exclusive imperial utensils for the royal family

As exclusive royal imperial ware, cloisonne represents the dignity and luxury of the royal family. On the New Year's Eve dinner in the 44th year of Qianlong, only the cutlery of Emperor Qianlong was made of cloisonne, while other members of the royal family could only use porcelain. It can be seen that cloisonne occupies an important position in Chinese history and is a symbol of identity and status.

Because of its complex craftsmanship, exquisite materials, and extremely high cost, the production of cloisonne was mainly carried out in the palace and only for the emperor and royal staff. At that time, cloisonne was endowed with supreme status.

Innovation, inheritance, and precious rarity

In modern times, cloisonne has gradually emerged from the palace and become a beloved artwork. After the founding of the People's Republic of China, cloisonne disappeared for a while, until the talented woman Lin Huiyin established the cloisonne art rescue work group, which enabled the inheritance and continued development of cloisonne.

In 2006, the craftsmanship of cloisonne making was listed as one of the first batch of national intangible cultural heritages in China, further protecting the precious tradition of cloisonne.

Complex craftsmanship and unique beauty

The process of making cloisonné is extremely complicated. It mainly uses purple copper as the raw material, pasting copper wires into various patterns through 108 manual processes, filling in different colors of enamel, and finally firing in a kiln. These enamels are selected from natural minerals such as agate, lapis lazuli, and turquoise, which are precious and rare.

The process of making cloisonné also leaves traces of manual craftsmanship. For example, there will be sand holes and solder joint marks on the surface of the work, and tiny scratches will also be produced during the polishing process. However, these traces precisely become the hallmark of the unique beauty of cloisonné.

One piece of cloisonné is equivalent to ten pieces of official kiln ware.

Cloisonné is no longer an item exclusive to the royal family. Nowadays, cloisonné has become the trophy for various competitions and celebrations, and has been presented as a national gift to dignitaries of various countries by relevant departments, showcasing the charm of Chinese culture.

At the same time, more and more celebrities are starting to collect and inherit cloisonné. From Ma Weidu to Zhang Guoli, they have all recognized the unique charm of cloisonné, making it a popular contemporary art again.