PLIQUE-A-JOUR- Enamel Vessels

Plique-a-jour in French means light or window of day, and is used to describe any enameling technique where light may pass through the enamel. Enamel in this instance is glass (not paint) that has been formulated to adhere to various metals.
These vessels or baskets begin as flat copper mesh that is annealed and then formed into various shapes. Most of the edges are finished with copper wire. Liquid enamel is applied, and then layers of ground enamel are added in several subsequent firings. Glass beads or lusters are sometimes included in later firings.
Enamelists consider plique-a-jour an advanced technique, as firing too long or hot can quickly destroy a piece. The resulting translucence is well worth the effort.

Detail from "How Do I Love Thee," click here to view full image.		Detail from "Summer's End," copper, enamel, patina 7.5"x6.5"x6" click here to view full image		Detail from "Wings Learning How to Crawl XV," silver enamel. 5"x4.5"x4" click here to view full image

The pieces above are pierced plique-a-jour enamels.I start with a flat piece of metal, transfer a design onto it, and saw out each opening. Then I raise the metal into a 3-dimensional sculpture or vessel. The enamel is mixed with a natural gum solution and held in the openings by surface tension. After all the holes are filled, the piece is fired in the kiln for a short time. This process is repeated until all the holes are spanned completely with enamel, usually at least 20 firings.



PLIQUE-A-JOUR- "Modern"

"Seedpod III" with electroformed base. 9"x12"x5" click here to view full image (in 'Collections-Plique-a-Jour)		"Night & Day" a pair of vessels with electroformed bases. 6.5"x12"x7 click here to view full image (in 'Collections-Plique-a-Jour)		"Tideline I" with electroformed base. 5"x10"x8" click here to view full image (in 'Collections-Plique-a-Jour)

As seen is the images above, a newer type of plique-a-jour enamel uses copper mesh as the base metal, eliminating the necessity of sawing out every hole. The enameling process is similar to the pierced variety, but is usually accomplished in fewer firings.In the following vessels, I have formed the shapes from mesh, then woven seed beads into some of the openings, and then added enamel and fired them in the kiln.


CLOISONNE

Cloisonné involves the addition of thin metal wires to form enclosures (cloisons) or lines to an enamel work. The process includes preparing silver for a base, then melting flux (clear glass) onto the silver in a preheated kiln. The cloisonné wires are bent and temporarily affixed to this surface with a natural gum substance. The piece is refired in a kiln so that the wire becomes fused to the underlying glass. More enamel is then added by "wet-packing." The ground glass powder is mixed with water to form a slurry that is placed on the piece with a brush or spatula.
After several to many wet-packings and firings, the enamel is polished to a matte finish by "stoning.” This technique is similar to bringing any material to a smooth finish, going from coarse to finer and finer polishing compounds until a semi-gloss finish is achieved.
The finished enamel work is then treated similarly to a polished semi-precious stone and set much like a cabochon into a piece of jewelry

Detail from Triangle Medley III," 3.5"x1.5" (in 'Gallery' section)		Detail from "The Way Through I," 3"x6"x6.5" (in Gallery' section)		Detail from "Looks Like a Fish III," 2"x2.5" (in 'Gallery' section)