I am surprised how many people seem never to have heard of cloisonné ware.

         It’s an ancient form of making metal containers dating back to ancient Egyptian times and has been made in many countries.

         It’s called cloisonné, a French word for ‘partitions’ or ‘compartments’ filled with vitreous enamels.

         I admire and collect this ware because of the skill needed to make it. The manufacturing is very complicated and goes through about eight stages.

         First, a body must be made. This can be made of copper, bronze, silver, or even gold.    Then comes the wire to be soldered or glued to the body in the pattern selected – this must be very difficult to do.

         Coloured enamel pastes are added, baked, and polished several times.

         I have been collecting old examples for many years.

         I look for cloisonné ware in opportunity shops. Small pieces are usually very cheap as they are rarely appreciated.

         Collecting can be fun, interesting, and rewarding.

Geoffrey Moss (mossassociates.co.nz)

“A collector’s joy is in the hunt, not just the acquisition.”