Cloisonne is an art technique that features complex patterns, complicated manufacturing procedures, and a gleaming glaze. It is a cultural convergence of the East and the West and is now one of China's national intangible cultural heritages.

Jingtailan, also known as Jingtai Blue, represents a special cloisonne made from copper. The patterns are made with copper wires and painted with an enamel glaze. The crafting technique found its way into China from the Arabian peninsula during the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368), and artisans in the imperial court quickly adopted it. It became popular during the reign of Emperor Jingtai in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) when sapphire blue was applied as the base color for many cloisonne products, generating the well-known name "Jingtai Blue." 

Royal collections to national gifts

"Cloisonne is an artifact integrating fine arts, engraving, inlaying, metallurgy, and glass melting. Its production procedure requires the following steps: designing; copper body making; inlaying copper wires on the body surface in certain patterns; glazing; firing; and polishing," explained a staff member at Beijing Enamel Factory Co., Ltd. (BEF). The factory is the only cloisonne time-honored brand in China, with a history of more than 60 years.

The production process, despite being convoluted, also offers bliss and absorption. "I took up the job of inlaying copper wires six or seven years ago and have enjoyed it ever since. I feel a sense of inner peace while indulging myself in creating such beauty," said Zhao, a cloisonne maker in BEF.

Many of the cloisonne makers of BEF are deaf and hard of hearing. Therefore, they can concentrate on their artistic creations while earning a living on their account.

Once exclusive to royal families, owning cloisonne signified social class and status. However, after the founding of the People's Republic of China, with the government's support and the export boom during the 1980s, the craft was restored and came into the sight of more ordinary people.

Nowadays, cloisonne creation often serves as national gifts to foreign leaders and international institutions, including the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), the United Nations Office at Geneva, and the World Economic Forum.

Promoting cloisonne

To expand recognition of the delicate ornaments to a broader audience, the BEF has made Jingtailan more accessible in diverse and creative forms, such as producing affordable items for daily decoration and launching cultural and innovative products.

"Besides adornment purpose, the utility of cloisonne figures are prominent in our endeavor to target more consumers," noted BEF President Xie Yanhua. "We have created a fusion of daily objects and cloisonne techniques, releasing cloisonne stationery, jewelry, watches, folding screens, and wine bottles to the market to address the needs of younger customers."

In addition, BEF promotes Jingtailan on e-commerce platforms such as Taobao and JD.com. "Unlike porcelain which enjoys a wider consumer base, cloisonne demands broader appreciation. We market the glittering art through e-commerce platforms to introduce it to more people," said Xie, "However, the promotion of traditional Chinese culture and techniques, not sales, is our ultimate aim."

BEF has established a museum and an interactive center for cloisonne display and production experiences. "Both adults and children come to the center to create cloisonne items. In this way, they can better understand the arduous process of cloisonne production and value the traditional Chinese art and culture," said a staff member at the interactive center. 

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