Cloisonné Inkwell

This cloisonné inkwell, square in form, has a domed shaped hinged lid. The body is made of brass decorated with polychrome enamel in the cloisonné technique.

• The design on the blue background is made in black (and white/light blue for a central flower-like element on each side) using a stylized, repeating scroll or swirl pattern.
• The swirls form volutes or a pattern of tight, concentric circles.
• On the sides of the square base, the black scrolls frame a central floral motif.
• The same black scroll pattern covers the domed lid.

Cloisonné Manufacturing Process

Cloisonné is an ancient enameling technique that involves the following steps:

1. Forming the Body: A metal object (the inkwell body), often copper, bronze, or brass, is created by different craftspeople.
2. Creating Partitions (Cloisons): Thin metal wires or strips, called cloisons (French for “partitions”), are bent into the desired intricate shapes that define the colored areas of the design. These wires are then soldered or affixed to the metal base. A thin layer of clear enamel may be fired onto the base first, and the wires glued on with gum tragacanth before a second firing fuses them to the enamel.
3. Enamel Application: Finely ground, colored vitreous enamel powder (a glass-like material) is mixed with a liquid, such as a dilute solution of gum tragacanth, to create a paste. Artisans carefully fill each of the compartments (cloisons) with the appropriate color of enamel paste.
4. Firing and Repetition: The piece is placed in a kiln and fired. Due to melting and shrinkage, the enamel will sink down in the compartments. This filling and firing process is repeated several times until all cloisons are completely filled to the top of the wire edge.
5. Finishing: After the final firing, the surface is polished to create a smooth, glossy finish, leaving the metal wires visible and separating the colors.

Origin and Age

• Origin: While cloisonné is a technique that flourished in China (particularly during the Ming Dynasty, where it became known as Jingtai Lan) and was mastered in Japan, it was also a popular decorative art form in Europe, notably in France. Cloisonné inkwells that are stylistically European (often with rococo or Art Nouveau elements) are frequently attributed to France. If the inkwell’s design features intricate floral, geometric, and figurative scenes, it may suggest a Chinese export piece.
• Age: Cloisonné inkwells of this style are commonly found dating from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Examples of similar French cloisonné inkwells are often dated to circa 1870–1890. Chinese export cloisonné pieces are often dated to the late 19th or early 20th century.