Enameling

Enameling on metal is an ancient art that dates back to the 13th century B.C., or earlier. Essentially, enamels are glass powders colored by minerals. For example: cobalt makes blue, chrome makes green and cadmium makes yellow. Enamels are opaque or transparent, and can be applied to various metals, including copper, silver, gold, steel and iron.

The enameling technique requires that the items be placed in a kiln—at 1,000o to 1,600o degrees Fahrenheit—in order for the enamels to fuse to the metal. Enamels are applied in many thin layers, with each layer requiring a separate kiln firing.