Vitreous enamel

Definition and Properties of Vitreous Enamel

• Vitreous enamel is made by fusing powdered glass to a substrate through firing.
• It creates a smooth and durable coating on materials such as metal, glass, ceramics, and stone.
• The melting point for vitreous enamel is usually between 750 and 850°C (1,380 and 1,560°F).
• The word 'vitreous' comes from the Latin word 'vitreus,' meaning glassy.
• Enamel can be used in various applications, including jewelry, decorative art, and consumer objects.
• Vitreous enamel can be applied to most metals, including steel, gold, silver, copper, and cast iron.
• Enamel is smooth, hard, chemically resistant, durable, and scratch-resistant.
• It has long-lasting color fastness, is easy to clean, and does not fade under ultraviolet light.
• Enamel can crack or shatter when the substrate is stressed, but modern enamels are chip- and impact-resistant.
• Enamel has been used in various industries, such as automotive, kitchen appliances, and construction.

Historical Use of Enamel

• Enameling has been a widely adopted technology throughout history, primarily used in jewelry and decorative art.
• Since the 18th century, enamel has also been applied to metal consumer objects, such as cooking vessels and appliances.
• Enamel has been used on marker boards, signage, and industrial materials like enamel paint and enameled wire.
• The word 'enamel' comes from the Old High German word 'smelzan' or the Latin word 'smaltum.'
• The spelling 'enamelled' and 'enamelling' is preferred in British English, while 'enameled' and 'enameling' are preferred in American English.
• The earliest use of enamel can be traced back to the 13th century BC with Mycenaean rings from Cyprus.
• Enamel was used in ancient Egypt and Greece, although its use remained rare.
• The technique of enamel was also present in the Koban culture of the Caucasus and was possibly carried by the Sarmatians to the ancient Celts.
• The Battersea Shield and the Staffordshire Moorlands Pan are examples of ancient enamel decoration in Britain.
• Some artifacts prepared for enamel have been found in different regions, adding to the uncertainty of early enamel use.
• Enamel played a significant role in European art during the Middle Ages.
• Byzantine enamel style influenced the peoples of Migration Period northern Europe.
• Limoges, France, became a famous center for vitreous enamel production, specializing in champlevé enamels.
• Painted enamel became popular during the Renaissance and Mannerist periods in France, and later spread to England.
• A Russian school developed enamel techniques for objects like crosses and small icons.
• Enamel was established in the Mughal Empire around 1600 for decorating gold and silver objects.
• Mīnākār (enamellers) were employed by the Mughal court.
• Transparent enamels were popular during the reign of Shah Jahan.
• Both cloisonné and champlevé techniques were used in Mughal enamel work.
• Enamel was first applied commercially to sheet iron and steel in Austria and Germany in the 1850s.
• Industrialization led to improvements in enamel production processes and efficiency.
• Enamel is favored by jewelry designers, including Art Nouveau jewelers and Fabergé.
• Enamel-based art experienced a resurgence in the Soviet Union and Australia.
• Enamel was first applied commercially to sheet iron and steel in Austria and Germany in the 1850s.
• Industrialization led to improvements in enamel production processes and efficiency.

Enamel in China and Japan

• The cloisonné technique reached China in the 13th-14th centuries, influenced by Byzantium or the Islamic world.
• Chinese cloisonné enamels from the early Ming dynasty are highly valued, with elaborate and intricate designs.
• Japan began making three-dimensional enamelled objects in the 1830s, following the analysis of Chinese objects.
• Japanese enamel art reached its peak during the Meiji and Taishō eras.
• Moriage design technique was used in Japanese enamelling, as seen in Imperial vases by Ando Jubei.
• Enamel decoration in Japan dates back to the late 19th/early 20th century.
• Cloisonné, known as 'shippo' in Japan, was initially used for imported objects from China.
• Kaji Tsunekichi played a significant role in starting Japan's enamel industry.
• The Nagoya cloisonné company helped improve the quality of enamel work.
• Japanese enamels rapidly improved in quality and design from 1870 onwards.
• German scientist Gottfried Wagener advised Japanese industry and improved production processes.
• Transparent black enamel developed by Wagener and Namikawa Yasuyuki was used for backgrounds.
• Wagener and Tsukamoto Kaisuke improved firing processes and expanded the variety of enamel colors.
• Kawade Shibatarō introduced techniques like drip-glaze and repoussé.
• Namikawa Sōsuke developed techniques like minimised wires and wireless cloisonné.

Indian and Islamic Enamel Art

• Enamel was established in the Mughal Empire around 1600 for decorating gold and silver objects.
• Mīnākār (enamellers) were employed by the Mughal court.
• Transparent enamels were popular during the reign of Shah Jahan.
• Both cloisonné and champlevé techniques were used in Mughal enamel work.
• Modern industrial production of enamel began in Calcutta in 1921.

Modern Applications of Enamel

• Enamel is used in various applications, including kitchen appliances, advertising signs, and chalkboards.
• Enamel coatings on steel panels provide protection to the core material.
• Used for cladding road tunnels, underground stations, building

Vitreous enamel Data Sources