Cloisonné is the ancient technique of decorating metal objects with enamel pastes, creating vivid and intricate designs. Believed to have originated in the Byzantine Empire, cloisonné traveled to medieval Europe and was adapted by the Chinese during the Yuan Dynasty (c. 1271 – 1368), where it evolved and flourished over centuries. By the 19th century, Western imperial expansionism in Asia fueled a growing appetite for Chinese treasures, including cloisonné, amongst collectors such as George Walter Vincent Smith. By 1890, Smith’s cloisonné collection had expanded to 150 pieces and featured beautiful examples from the Ming dynasty (c. 1368 – 1644), considered to be the “golden age” of enamel production, as well as the Qing dynasty (c. 1644 – 1912).
Presented by Sarah Zhang, M.A. student in Art History, University of Massachusetts Amherst; Sophie Combs, Assistant Curator of Art, Springfield Museums
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If you plan to attend in person at the Museums, tickets are available on the day of the lecture in the Welcome Center.
Members: FREE
Springfield residents: $4
Nonmembers: $4
To attend via ZOOM, please register in advance.
