Handmade Enamel On Copper Earrings

This true authentic piece of jewelry is made with the traditional enamelling technique. What I love about it is that is looks liquid even though it is not.

An authentic pattern is painted within the enamel with a lighter shade , making the pattern even more interesting. It somehow reminds me of the illustrations from a folklore fairy tale book.

These dangle enamel earrings are about 2.5 cm long each and hang on copper clasps.

The length of each earring (with the clasp) is about 5 cm.

Enamel is a glass coating that is baked onto a metal surface.

However, this procedure is not as easy as it sounds. The “glass” is ground and it comprises various metal oxides. It is these oxides that generate the colours.
The metal surface can be of all kinds: iron, copper, silver, gold etc. The enamel is laid on the surface. This may be done by sifting, with a brush or with a spatula depending on the requirements of the situation. Then at a high temperature – between 800 and 900 °C – the coating is dissolved on the metal.

The history of enamelling dates back thousands of years. 

It was used by Egyptians and by Celtics, too. During the time of the Roman Empire, Byzantium was the reputed centre of enamelling.
The enamel-technique used by me is similar to the French Limoges paint-enamel type developed in the 16-17th centuries but it is not the same.
Every enamel artist uses the knowledge accumulated throughout thousands of years and enriches it with new methods based upon his/her personal experiments. The possibilities in enamelling are endless. Throughout a lifetime one can learn just a couple of enamelling procedures.

How to care for this pair of earrings

This beauty is made of enamel on copper with copper ear hooks. Over a couple of years, the beautiful reddish copper can turn dark, kind of black and it can also turnish. To clean it, apply some ketchup (yes, you read it correctly, ketchup!) on a cloth and wipe the jewel with it.

It should not need any maintanance if you follow the golden rules of jewelry-keeping below.

Please note

• this jewel is fragile
• spray your perfume 20 minutes before putting on your accessories
• never take a bath/shower with your jewelry on because moist is harmful even to noble metals
• when you take it off, keep your jewelry in the darkest, driest area of your home to maintain its original beauty for a long time