The Process of Enamel Inlay Over Silver

ugh Russian silver and enamel artistic works explodedsilver and enamel artistic works exploded during the
during the 19th Century, the true ancient beginnings19th Century, the true ancient beginnings were during
were during the 15th and 16th Centuries. During thethe 15th and 16th Centuries. During the Empire of
heightened points of Russian silver and enamel worksByzantine, there was of a profound exposure to
of art, the Cloisonne technique slightly similar to theChristianity, and there was a blended mixture of
Orient's original Cloisonne technique of metal andexpression within several of the enamel artworks
enamel process. The Orient technique of Cloisonne,during these very early time periods.
has slightly raised metal for pockets of enamel to beDuring the heightened points of Russian silver and
filled. But in the Russian Cloisonne technique, the metalenamel works of art, the Cloisonne technique slightly
surfacing is completely flat. On top of the Russiansimilar to the Orient's original Cloisonne technique of
artists making these three techniques their mainmetal and enamel process. The Orient technique of
methods of silver and enamel design, there is also theCloisonne, has slightly raised metal for pockets of
artistic beauty of painted enamel.enamel to be filled. But in the Russian Cloisonne
Russian culture is full of colors, in everything they dotechnique, the metal surfacing is completely flat. With
architecturally in their homes, in their churches, and alsothe other popular method around this time period was
within their smaller artistic creations of their everydaythe technique of Filigree. This is done by taking twisted
living. Not only were their inner and outer surroundingsand thin silver wiring designs and laying them upon the
painted with colorful variations, but they were alsoflat surface specifically for the enamel filled areas.
decorated with enamels that were brilliantly translucent.There are several other silver and enamel inlay
Many of these jewels like enamels of the 19th Centurymethods and another very popular one to come along
were made by the court enameler, Ovchinikov, duringafter the Cloisonne and the Filigree techniques is the
the reign of Tzar Aleksandr III. It was during the reignsChampleve method. The Champleve technique is
of the Tzar's of Aleksandr II, Aleksandr III, and Tzarwhen there are etches or scratches engraved into the
Nikolai II that there was an explosion of creativesilver, gold, or some other metal and the various colors
beauty within the artistic world of Russian enamel andof brilliant enamel is inlaid into the deep etches of
silver.design within the metal surface. On top of the Russian
With a splash of the Orient cultural influence mixedartists making these three techniques their main
with the Russian's national heritage made up themethods of silver and enamel design, there is also the
exquisite artworks known only to be owned by theartistic beauty of painted enamel. In this the enamel
Russian artists. There is nothing like thewas literally hand-painted upon the silver or some other
expressiveness that is only unique to the Russians withmetal an then fired for giving its translucent beauty.
their long lineage arts of enameling. Although Russian