Champlevé
Champlevé is an enameling technique in which troughs and hollows are carved or gouged out of a thick metal surface and filled with powdered enamel, leaving raised lines of metal as the outline of the design. The name is French, meaning “raised field” or “raised plane”.
Joan Mackarell, “Memory Box”
What is champlevé enamel?
This process is the very opposite of the cloisonné technique: instead of building up on the surface of the metal object, the surface is gouged away, creating troughs and hollows separated by raised lines of metal that form the outline of the design. The hollows are filled with pulverized enamel, which is then fired. The hard-finished enamel is later filed down until the glossy enamel surface and the metal surface can be polished together. The technique produces highly controlled and sharp detail.
History of champlevé
The origin dates back to the Celtic work of the first century AD, accomplished by pouring molten glass into depressions carved into bronze objects and jewelry. The technique developed and flourished in medieval Europe.
How champlevé is made
- Troughs and hollows are chiseled, carved or etched out of a thick metal surface, leaving raised metal outlines.
- The hollows are filled with pulverized enamel.
- The piece is fired.
- The hardened enamel is filed down level with the metal, and both are polished together.
Key facts
- Name: French, “raised field”.
- Origin: Celtic work, first century AD; flourished in medieval Europe.
- Metal: needs a thick base, so it is used on copper and other base metals.
- Character: highly controlled, sharp detail.
- Opposite technique: cloisonné, where the cells are built up on the surface instead of cut into it.
Supplies for champlevé
Champlevé calls for a thick copper base. See our copper shapes and blanks and our vitreous enamels by brand and type.