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Antique Enameling Styles for Gorgeous Jewelry Boxes For Women

Of the many kinds of jewelry boxes for women, the loveliest ones are those made with enamel. Enamel is created when powdered glass is fused into a substrate by getting it fired at high temperatures. This molten powder then flows in the form of a vitreous coating over metal objects making the surface smooth and pretty.

The word enamel can be vaguely traced back to two languages. It possibly could have come from the word 'smelzan' in the Old High German language which means to smelt. It is also quite possible that it came from the French word 'esmail'.

The process of enameling we know today has been passed on from civilizations like the Egpytian, where cut, colored glass was used to decoratively fill in gold cells known as cloisonné. Perhaps from this point it was the Greeks or the Celts that took things a step forward and melted the glass.

A number of civilizations like the Chinese, Indian and the Roman utilized this art form. The artisans of Battersea and Straffordshire in England in the 18th century began to use enamel to create decorative boxes. They became quite popular among nobility who used them for a number of reasons.

Nobility and royalty often gifted enamel boxes among themselves. People made use of these boxes to hold make up and jewelry as well as snuff at times. The royal class in fact still give these boxes away as gifts.

Russia's famed Peter Carl Faberg can be credited with taking enamel to new creative heights with the creation of the famous Fabergé eggs. Enamel boxes can be complex to make depending on their design, but here is a basic idea on their creation.

Boxes generally start with a pure metal, with copper being oft-used and gold being the most expensive. They are formed into desired shapes. Enamel is sprayed on the box and this is then fired to get that smooth surface. The surface of the box becomes unbreakable and quite hard after this process. These boxes can then last for centuries.

The image to be added will be drawn or photographed before it is made into a template. This helps when the design has to be hand painted onto the surface of the box. After this, the design is fired again to fuse it to the enameled surface of the box.

There are a number of techniques used in enameling. Every one of them is different and comes out with a unique design. Among the techniques are Cloisonné, Champlevé, Grisaille, Limoges enamel, specific to Limoges in France and Plique-à-jour besides others. Each technique is referred to by its French name and is unique in its looks.

So don't wait to go to a museum to look at some enamel work. Get a box for a loved one or for yourself.

This article was written by Ruth D’Souza Prabhu of MarqART Gift Shop. Our jewelry boxes feature evocative wood art designs, created from unique wood grain patterns and colors. A fine addition to your dressing table or as a gift. Please visit http://www.marqartgiftshop.com to browse & buy exotic jewelry boxes that will give you a lifetime of pleasure!

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