ENAMEL & CHAMPLEVÉ

Engraving for enamel is another highly skilled and particular aspect of hand engraving. It enables artists to fuse coloured enamels (essentially powdered glass) to precious metal objects.

Champlevé and basse-taille  are the two principal enamelling techniques that require the surface of the metal to be hand engraved before the enamel is applied. The ground glass is applied wet, and can be either transparent or opaque in nature, each with very different effects.

In champlevé, troughs or cells are engraved leaving thin borders of metal to contain individual enamel colours. When fired, the metal portions remain visible and serve to create the framework of the design. Basse-taille enamelling is similar to champlevé, whereby the artist engraves a pattern in low relief over which the enamel is applied. By varying the depth of the engraving in areas, the engraver can create a brilliant interplay of pattern forms which accent the piece.