A pair of enamel cups featuring flowers and butterflies, symbolizing romantic love, make debut at the Beijing Design Week on Sept 23, 2016. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

A brief history of enamel painting

The art of enamel porcelain first appeared in ancient China's Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), and later thrived in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). The craftsmanship, however, gradually disappeared during the reign of Emperor Qianlong of Qing Dynasty (1711-1799) due to the complicated workmanship which was only limited to imperial workers.

According to historical data, only some 400 pieces are left in today's world.