Page 19 - China Of All Colors, Jorge Welsh
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China of All Colours 27
painted enamels on copper
FIG. 6
body, while the edges were folded in on each other. 52 The most important and complex stages in the pro- Fig. 6
As far as possible, soldering was avoided, as the joints duction of enamelled copper were the refining,
could become loose during the firing process, caus- painting and firing of the enamels themselves.56 Tutenague Metal Articles
ing the solder to produce flaws on the enamel.53 Once Although some records suggest that early enam- Gouache on paper
the vessel had been assembled, the surfaces were elled copperwares made for the imperial court used China — Qing dynasty
smoothed and cleaned in preparation for decorating. European enamels and techniques,57 it is likely that (1644-1911), c. 1825
Initially, a layer of enamel was applied on the outer most of the enamelled copperwares produced in Gift of Mr. and Mrs.
and inner surfaces, with the exception of the rims and Canton used the readily available Chinese manu- B. Rionda Braga, 1977
feet. This first, counter layer was most often of white factured enamels that were also used on porcelain.
enamel, which stays opaque after mixing with arse- Furthermore, while painted enamels on copper Inv. E80607.1
nic, though in some cases turquoise enamel, which pieces are decorated with polychrome enamels, some
owes its colour to copper oxide, was also used. The employ a similar palette to that used on porcelain: the © Peabody Essex Museum.
counter layer acted as a binding agent for the added so-called famille rose palette. This palette, of which All Rights Reserved.
sections, limited contraction of the metal during the ruby-red and pink are the prominent colours, Photography
and after firing,54 and prevented subsequent layers included the opaque lead-stannate yellow; the ruby by Jeffrey R. Dykes
of decorative coloured enamel from flaking off. Once enamel, derived from colloidal gold with the addition
assembled and coated with the base layer of enamel, of tin oxide to the frit; and the opaque lead-arsenate
the vessels were fired for the first time in a muffle white enamel. The white, when mixed with other col-
kiln.55 ours, opened up the possibility of producing a wider
