Beijing Cloisonné Ware

Cloisonne (Jingtailan in Chinese), a traditional handicraft in Beijing, has a history of more than 500 years. It prevailed during the Jingtai Period (1450-1456 A.D.) of the Ming Dynasty and was named "Jingtailan" because the main color of the enamel was then blue ( or "lan" in Chinese).During the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing(1644-1911) dynasties, cloisonne ware was produced for royal use. Examples of cloisonne ware made in these two dynasties are still kept in Beijing. Some show monkeys, cranes and other animal. In the late Qing Dynasty, a cloisonne article was awarded first prize at Chicago world fair of 1904.  Cloisonne is noted for its exquisite designs and unfading bright colors. It is both ornamental and applicable.

After the founding of New China, the production of cloisonne has been rapidly restored and developed. The traditional artistic form is being carried forward and encouraged. A variety of new colors and designs has been created and the quality of the products uninterruptedly improved