Topic: Plique a jour (split from Re: Craqueleure like Ikora?)

[david31162]

Thanks Frank,
I'm really a collector of enamels more than glass(particularly plique a jour circa 1900) and the term cloisonne, which i think simply means cells, is a term for enamels filling a raised ground.
David.
 Just as an after thought have you ever had any threads relating to plique a jour enamels on this site? As it is really just a form of glass. Ill post some picures of my favourite pieces if anyone is interested.
David

[Frank]

Just as an after thought have you ever had any threads relating to plique a jour enamels on this site? As it is really just a form of glass. Ill post some pictures of my favourite pieces if anyone is interested.
David

Just looked, nothing. I love it too and would certainly enjoy seeing your favourites. A brief description on the technique would be a good idea to go with it as many will be unaware of this.

[david31162]

Here is the only picture that i have already saved on this computer. Its the best piece, one of the handful of things in my house that i can honestly say will never be sold.Not best shown I'm afraid as it isn't held up to the light. It just shows the graded colours of the enamel.
How is it made? Ill do my best- Plique a jour is a backless enamel which is basically an enamelled form of stained glass. Ive seen it translated as 'light of day' but that obviously isn't a literal translation.     I think there are a few Techniques- the metal (usually fretted silver or silver wire) cells are small so the enamel can be held in place by surface tension prior to firing. They can also be backed by mica or a thin metal which can be removed/filed away later.
There are many craft type, modern pieces on sale at the moment but the most famous examples are by Russian, German and Norwegian silversmiths (each of these have very different and distinctive styles).My pieces are nearly all German 'Jugendstil' from about 1900-1910.
David
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v210/david-dj/plique/jewels0002.jpg

[Anne]

This is a beautiful technique for sure. I have a couple of bookmarked links showing more about it: http://www.plique-a-jour.com/ (I love that door!)  & http://www.glass-on-metal.com/pastart/pliqueajour.htm

[josordoni]

Isn't that stunning?   Charles Horner made a lot of enamel on silver jewellery , but this was mainly champ levee, rather than either cloisonne or plique a jour - literally "raised field" the background silver is hollowed out to take the enamel, rather than wires being placed on top of the backing as in cloisonne.  I think that your plique a jour (which I have never seen, or if I have, didn't know what it was) is wonderful. 

I don't wear much jewellery only earrings and I can imagine that this technique would be wonderful for those, as they hang and would show the light shining through.

thank you for this! 

[david31162]

Thanks Lynne and Anne,
I collect Charles Horner too. Ive put links to my two favourite sites for Plique and other vintage enamels. In my opinion the best jewellery shops in the country- more silver and enamel than gold and diamonds (I'm lucky my wife prefers this too!! Then again look at the prices). The Jugendstil pieces are my favourites.
http://www.tademagallery.com/content.htm
http://www.vandenbosch.co.uk/Jewellery/Jeng/J&ANPage.htm
David

[Frank]

I got van den Bosch into the art deco... he and Carol have come a long way.

[david31162]

He has certainly been selling for many years!
A really nice bloke one of the few dealers i know who will share his knowledge and even help to identify items. David

[Hotglass]

One of the artists shown at this gallery used to make Plique-a-jour
Studio Fusion Gallery, Oxo Tower London SE1 http://www.studiofusiongallery.co.uk
The shop was closed on the 2 or 3 occasions I was there and only one piece of P-a-j in the window. It was a stunning piece though. Ed.

[aa]

Are you thinking of Alex Raphael http://www.araphael.co.uk/pliqueajour.htm