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Museum exhibits treasures of Chinese cloisonné
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Ninety-five pieces of cloisonné made during the Kangxi and Qianlong periods in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) are on display in Hangzhou Art and Crafts Museum through March 16.
These cloisonné works feature bright colors and artistic shapes, made with delicate techniques, which reflect the aesthetic values and skill of artisans at the time.
Cloisonné is decorative enamelwork in which designs made of copper, silver or fine gold wires on metal vessels are filled with powdered, colored enamel, or designs are painted on with enamel, which is then fired in a kiln.
Patterns in wire are painstakingly made by craftsmen using tweezers and custom-made pliers. The wire is usually soldered but sometimes glued on the surface of vessels.
The vessels usually are copper, silver or gold, but sometimes porcelain or pottery. Copper is considered the most suitable material since it is cheap, light and easily hammered and stretched.
A piece of cloisonné takes hundreds of steps to finish, requiring both great care and creativity from a craftsman.
In ancient times, cloisonné was made in China only for the royal family’s use. “Jingtai Blue” (景泰蓝) is a style that has come to typify Chinese cloisonné. Blue was the predominant color of enamel used in this type of cloisonné, and Jingtai specially refers to the Jingtai period in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) when it reached its peak.
The exhibition hall used for the Hangzhou exhibition is decorated in blue in homage to this vintage Chinese court style. The modern center for making Jingtai Blue is in Beijing.
While Jingtai Blue is considered a Chinese national treasure, the techniques of cloisonné making were spread to China from other countries during the 14th century. Thanks to Genghis Khan of the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368), China has the splendid cloisonné vessels and crafts as part of its heritage.
When the great Mongolian leader invaded Dashi (in present-day Iraq and Iran) during his reign, captive Dashi craftsmen were taken to China and began to spread and hand down cloisonné techniques in the country.
The marvelous vessels became favored by imperial courts and won high praise.
Yet the making of Jingtai Blue declined over the centuries. By the Qing Dynasty, the Jingtai Blue was inferior to that from the Ming Dynasty, but another cloisonné variety was introduced and began to gain ground.
This was painted cloisonné, referring to use of patterns painted on metal vessels with colored enamel paste, without using metal wires to make the designs. This variety originally came from France in the 15th century.
With the advent of trade between China and Western merchants, painted cloisonné was imported into China through the open port Guangzhou in Guangdong Province. Due to its exotic origin, Chinese people usually called it Western cloisonné.
It was not until the Emperor Kangxi’s reign (1661-1722) in the Qing Dynasty that the variety was officially produced for the court.
Influenced by Western culture, some painted cloisonné made during the Qing Dynasty was characterized by European scenery and painting styles, as shown by the exhibits on display.
The craft of making painted cloisonné peaked during the rule of the Kangxi, Yongzheng (1722-1735) and Qianlong (1735-1796) emperors of the Qing Dynasty. Guangzhou as the earliest city that fired painted cloisonné and still boasts the best techniques in modern times.
The Hangzhou exhibition has both Jingtai Blue and painted cloisonné, including a painted treasure cherished by the Emperor Qianlong from the Forbidden City. The bottom is engraved with Chinese characters “大清乾隆年制” (Made in Qianlong Period of the Qing Dynasty).
The display is divided into four parts, Gorgeous Cloisonné Vessels, Imperial-style Cloisonné, the Exotic Cloisonné of Guangdong Province and Treasures from the West.
The front of the exhibition is painted with auspicious clouds and colorful floral patterns, while the back depicts Western figures and landscapes.
Date: Through March 16, 9am-4pm (closed on Mondays)
Address: 334 Xiaohe Rd
Admission: Free
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