Cloisonné in China

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It was a typically hot Beijing summer.  I felt an undeniable thrill of danger and an absolute fascination as I wandered through a cloisonné sweatshop. Watching out for bits of copper slivers everywhere--and winding through twisty passages, unavoidably brushing hips and shoulders with running machinery--I marveled at women placing those curvy bits of copper onto metal pots and vases with tweezers, then blowing colored enamels through gorgeous silver airbrush tubes. Flowers and figures were magically brought to life within a crazy quilt of textured copper. Insanely fast. Minutely detailed. Remarkably perfect. It was sheer artistry in a space of cluttered chaos. My small VIP contingent from a U.S. university was given remarkable access in China. Organized for a formal signing ceremony of collaborative exchange with a university there, we received highest honors as guests because education and teachers are highly revered in their culture. This day, I felt compelled to bring back not only a beautiful piece of cloisonné but also the elegant, breath-controlled airbrush equipment that so mesmerized me...that stopped me cold in the middle of a crowded, loud, and dangerous room of exquisite artists. Now, I look at complex hand-crafted art with even deeper appreciation after seeing firsthand the manual dexterity, artistic skills, pride of work, and time required for each piece. I see the artists' faces.

My still life grouping has the silver airbrush set on the left with its mouthpiece and spray tube, decoratively etched base reservoir for enamel, and tiny brushes tucked into slots. Other items include a silver and wood decorative hair comb from the museum shop of a school dedicated to the education and cultural preservation of Chinese ethnic minorities;  my small photo album;  a cloisonné pot;  and a custom carved soapstone chop gifted to me, which has my name transformed into Chinese characters to imprint onto the sealant wax of my personal correspondence--just like all the top literati. --Jeannette Bondurant © 2024
Photo: Jeannette Bondurant