Enameling is a very ancient art form. The earliest known pieces date from the 13th century BC Cypress. The Romans used it extensively, and developed many innovations. The Byzantine era is known for its religious works and the development of cloisonné. During the 15th century, painting with glass came out of Limoges, France. Each era has produced beauty using its own techniques.

Enamel is basically glass fused to metal. The enamel (glass) is crushed to a fine powder and then fused with heat to copper, silver, or gold. Karin creates enamel pieces in several styles, including cloisonné (meaning “little cells”), Champleve, and Bas Taille.

In cloisonné, small gold or fine silver wires are laid out in a design on the metal and fused to it. The cells are then filled with washed enamel grains to achieve the desired effect. They are filled and fired in a kiln at 1500 degrees as many as 20 times. The piece is ground and polished, then placed into a hand fabricated setting.

Most of Karin’s current work is a variation of Champleve and Bas Taille. These techniques take away metal from the base and fill it with enamel. She applies a pattern with PnP blue to the metal and etches it into the piece with ferric chloride. The piece is then cleaned up and dry sifted with enamel powder front and back. It is fired hotter than cloisonné. Several times the piece is stoned and enamel reapplied and refired, until the final effect is achieved. Then the edges are cleaned up and a bail of sterling silver attached to it. The sterling chain and bail are then given a patina to give them an aged look with liver of sulfur.

Variables in each color of enamel and varying temperatures or metal thicknesses make each piece unique. These same variables create a challenge that keeps the work interesting and sometimes leads to a wonderful surprise in the piece.