Traditional Techniques Produce Works of Modern Art

摘要

Except for a few procedures, enameling cannot be mechanized," says Prof. Vivek Das, founding member of The Enamelist Society in India and practicing enamellist for the past 30 years. Speaking of the delicate art of fusing permanent vitreous (glass) colors onto metals to create sparkling pattern he says, "Each piece is original art, as genuine enamels are entirely handmade." Enameling has long been used on decorative objects and jewelry. The link with metal and colors is crucial, as enamel without metal is simply glass, and glass without pigments is frit. By mixing frit with oxides, in requisite proportions, enamels are created with attributes of transparency, translucency, opaqueness, or opalescence. A metal sheet is cut into an exact shape as needed, then hammered and molded by band. The enamel is then applied, layer by layer, in between firings and re-firings, until the desired result is obtained.