Prince Kung's Palace Museum showcases imperial cloisonne

A special exhibition showcasing the history and contemporary revival of Beijing's cloisonne art opened on Sept 24 at Prince Kung's Palace Museum in Beijing, bringing together nearly 58 pieces and sets of works spanning imperial craftsmanship and modern artistic innovation.

The Special Exhibition on Imperial Cloisonne Art of Beijing is jointly hosted by Prince Kung's Palace Museum under the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the Beijing Enamel Factory.

The exhibition features reproductions of representative cloisonne objects from the Yuan (1271-1368), Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties, alongside original works by contemporary masters of arts and crafts.

The works trace the development of copper-body cloisonne from its origins along the ancient Silk Road to its flourishing as an imperial craft and its revival in modern China.

Cloisonne is a traditional Chinese craft that combines copperwork, enamel firing, painting, and engraving. The technique was introduced to China from Arab regions during the Yuan Dynasty and matured during the Ming Dynasty. The predominant use of sapphire and peacock blue helped give the craft its Chinese name, which translates to "Jingtai blue".

During the Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties, cloisonne was produced as an imperial craft. Special workshops were established to make pieces for the imperial court.