Enameling is the ancient art of fusing powdered glass to fine silver or copper, creating lasting color and pattern on the surface of jewelry and decorative objects. It’s one of the oldest ways humans have brought metal and glass together in a single piece of art.
My favorite technique is cloisonné—an approach that uses fine silver or gold wire, carefully bent into shapes that form tiny cells. Once the wires are in place, the real magic begins—filling each tiny cell with layers of color and gentle shading, almost like painting with powdered glass. These delicate enclosures are then fired under high heat until the glass melts and settles into place. The name comes from the French word for “cell,” a nod to its earliest origins.
There’s a meditative rhythm to the work: hours spent shaping slender wires into graceful lines and patterns, each one guiding the flow of color that will follow.