Professional Documents
Culture Documents
It may be so compounded as to be
transparent or opaque and with or without color, but it is usually employed to add
decorative color. It was used to decorate jewelry in ancient Egypt, Greece, and Rome.
Specimens of enamel-work found in Belgium and England date from as early as the 3d or
2d cent. B.C. Perfected in the Byzantine world, enamel, often in the cloisonné technique,
was used to adorn screens and tabernacles. In the 12th cent. the Spanish excelled in the
champlevé technique. In France at that time brilliant coloristic effects were achieved in
the Meuse valley. Concurrently, Limoges became a long-time center of superb
enamelwork production. From Limoges in the 16th cent. emerged the most famous artist
to work in enamel, Léonard Limousin. In England, from the 17th cent. on, enamel
provided the surface for miniature portraits. It was also used for the florid decoration of
vanity cases and snuffboxes. In the 19th cent. there was a decline in craftsmanship and a
general loss of interest in the enamel medium. The mid-1960s produced an extensive
craft revival and reborn interest in enamel techniques.
Bibliography
See T. and B. Hughes, English Painted Enamels (1967); S. Benjamin, Enamels (1983); G.
L. Matthews, Enamels, Enameling, Enamelists (1984).
History
Art of painting on enamel has arisen in Rostov in 1760's when first workshop was
organized at archbishop house. Later individual masters worked under orders of local
churches and monasteries. They wrote small icons which were used basically for
decoration of subjects of church use. In second half of XVIII artists had influance of
baroque style that was combined with icon
painting tradition and with elements of people
folk crafts.
Intensive development of mass production had an adverse effect on art level of products
so in the the end of XIX - beginning of XX's were made attempts to overcome the crisis
situation. With this purpose schools - workshops where professional artists were involved
were created, new experiences were made on creation of household products with flower
type paiting.
In post-war time work of artel has renewed. In 1960 it was transformed into factory
"Rostov enamel". Second half of XX century in genera is characterized by growth of
manufacture, expansion of assortment and improvement of quality of products. Alongside
with prodcution of mass production works new original samples are created. Now there
are three factories of production of enamel items in Rostov, there is a group of artists
working in personal creative workshops. Creativity of modern Rostov artists develops on
the most different genre and stylistic directions.
Modern artists of factory "Rostov enamel" who make wide assortment of products
(brooches, ear-rings, pendants, bracelets, toilet boxes, caskets, other souvenirs...) have
finished the products up to the best art samples of a world level.
Enamel clearcole is as a basis for painting, it is a mixture of pounded white enamel with
water. It is put on a face sheet of a plate in three layers. After drawing each layer the plate
is dried in a drying oven and is burnt in a burning furnace at temperature 700-800Ñ until
enamel will be melted and the surface get smooth.
To protect a plate from possible deformation during burning its back side is covered with
the enamel layer named "counter-enamel".
Painting of a plate begins from drawing which is made first on paper. Then under it a
clean sheet of paper is laid, and the drawing on a contour is pierced by a needle. On the
bottom sheet the dot print of figure turns out. This sheet is imposed on an obverse surface
grounded plate and is rubbed with the soot mixed of turpentine therefore drawing is
transferred on an enamel basis.
At the first stage of a painting a thin brush is used tp make "underpainting" - primary
colors are put. After that the plate is dried in a drying oven before removal of vapor of
turpentine from paints, and then burns in muffle furnaces until paints will malt and will
get brightness and shine.
Then the plate is got out of the muffle furnace and gets cool and the first detail painting is
made during. Then the plate again is dried, burnt and cooled.
During the second stage minor details come to light, are made a
semitone and color relations are specified. The third burning is
made.
Sets of enamel jewelry with some enamel pieces that suit in design and color -
enamel pendants, enamel rings, enamel bracelets.
Aroma box made in technique of enamel painting, can be just a pendant that is
worn with chain, and it may be used as an aroma box - this is what it is made
for.
Earrings - ename jewelry that many woman can not do without, many styles to
suit any taste
Bracelets made of enamel are suitable for everyday and for evening wearing
Rings - different styles of these enamel jewelry items - flower and landscape
painting, different metal designs
Brooches are made in enamel technique, they look elegant and festive, different
designs can suit any taste.
Pendants can be of different designs with religious and flower paintings, some
pieces can be opened to keep their tiny photo
Thimbles - these enamel jewelry pieces are for collection and for collectors.
Mirror looks elegant and original, a little mirror is framed with in metal with
enamel painting.