Patricia Piqué & Helen Sewell

 

Our thanks go to Gudde Skyrme for all the time and effort she put into our Tutorial. It is always a pleasure to attend a class taken by Gudde as her explanations are very clear and concise. She also comes well prepared with all the equipment needed by her pupils.

 

Plique à jour is described in the Manuel of Cloisonné & Champlevé Enamelling (Strohsahl) as a " backless enamel that imitates stained glass", and is regarded as the " ne plus ultra" of enamelling in many circles.

 

The technique was developed in Byzantium as far back as the 14th Century, and basically, it involves a design being formed in cloisonne wire on a thin sheet of metal or mica; filling the cells with transparent enamels, and then, after firing, removing the backing piece.

 

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