Cloisonné Enamel Jewellery

Cloisonné enamelling is just one of many techniques used when applying glass on metal. Most enamelling terms are derived from the French language. France has been the traditional centre for enamelling since Medieval Times. Cloisonné, like most technical terms used in enamelling, is French for "cell". These cells are filled with granular glass and fired at temperatures of over 800°C. Most pieces seen in this collection have been fired many times, usually 20 or more. Glenice Lesley Matthews likes to use pure silver wire as a drawing tool to form these cells giving her work a gesture-line quality. The use of minimal colour in many pieces continues the notion of being a sketch torn from a book. The nine examples shown here come from series and are representative of different styles and bodies of work.

		Click on an image for a larger view, and for information about the piece.