The art of Cloisonné enamel jewellery

The Georgian National Museum in Tbilisi has a small exhibition, from 23 December 2013 to 30 April 2015, on the making of a piece of Cloisonne enamel jewellery, called Revival of Lost Technologies - Cloisonne Enamel. The main item on exhibit is the cloisonné enamel medallion of Saint Simon the Apostle – it is a copy from the Khakhuli Triptych Icon of the All-Holy Mother of God. Accompanying the exhibition is a brief documentary (a few minutes long). The metalworking profession originated in the 2^nd century AD and continued until the middle of the 15^th century, when the techniques were no longer used.

The gold ornaments with cloisonné inlays of almandine and coloured glass plaques were found in the graves of nobility from the Kingdom of Kartli (Iberia). The gold ring, circa 4^th century AD, with cloisonné enamel is from the Armaziskhevi Necropolis, grave No. 13, which represents the earliest examples of cloisonné enamel jewellery in Georgia. The bronze buckle, circa 3nd century AD, has chamleve enamel, and was found in grave No. 1.

Led by Ermile Maghradze, the project called In the Footsteps of Lost Technologies-Cloisonne Enamel, initiated by the Georgian National Museum, was financed by UNESCO. The project involved the study of the technological processes in the metalwork. All tools required to make cloisonné enamel were reconstructed.

During the archaeological digs in 1966 in the former town of Vani, a conical iron hood with apertures was found. The function of the ‘Colchian hood’ proved to be a tool for goldsmithing, specifically for soldering precious metals.

The culmination of the project was the making of a copy of a cloisonné enamel medallion of Saint Simon, using the reconstructed anciet tools.

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