Workers Make Cloisonne Wares At Beijing Enamel Factory

BEIJING, CHINA - FEBRUARY 24: (CHINA OUT) Workers paste cloisons on a roughcast of a cloisonne vessel at Beijing Enamel Factory on February 24, 2005 in Beijing, China. Cloisonne enamel was probably introduced to China by missionaries during the Yuan Dynasty (1206-1368) and used to be reserved for the emperors and their court in ancient times. The production of the cloisonnes is a very complicated process taking a long time doing delicate work. The process consists of designing, shaping and welding the red copper materials, pasting cloisons on roughcasts, filling the enamel colour and firing in kilns at least five times, polishing and electroplating. Traditional Chinese cloisonne wares have exquisite patterns and are sold all over the world. (Photo by China Photos/Getty Images)