Cloisonné, an enameled art form with a history as colorful as the beads, dates back more than 500 years. As one of Beijing's most famous exports, the Chinese have made cloisonné enameling a distinctive art form. Cloisonné production flourished during the reign of Ming Emperor Jingtai in the mid-15th century. Most pieces of this period were made with special blue enamel as the base color, therefore creating the Chinese term for cloisonné: jingtai-lan ("Jingtai Blue"). Cloisonné now ranks as one of China's major contributions to the world's fine arts.

The traditional method of making cloisonné is an elaborate and complicated process that involves the following:

Base-hammering. This is the beginning the cloisonné-making process. Copper, which is easily hammered and stretched, is used to create the body of the piece. Expert judgment by the craftsman is necessary during this phase of the process. The craftsman determines the uniformity of thickness, and the weight of the piece.

Filigree Soldering. This phase of the process can be compared to embroidery, as both require great care, skill and creativity. The cloisonné craftsman solders copper strips onto the body of the piece creating filigree. These fine strips are shaped into beautiful and sometimes complicated patterns.

Enamel Filling. This phase involves the application of the enamel filling. Enamel is made from the basic elements of boric acid, saltpeter and alkaline mixed with ground minerals. The enamel mixture is then applied to the compartments separated by filigrees. Enamel with the mineral content of: iron will turn gray; with uranium, yellow; with chromium, green; with bronze, blue; with zinc, white; with gold or iodine, red.

Enamel Firing. During the firing phase, the enamel-filled piece is placed in the kiln. Re-filling is required during this phase, because the enamel shrinks during firing.

Polishing. During this phase of the process the filigree and the filled compartments must be polished over and over to make them even. A variety of polishing surfaces are used in order to obtain luster on the surface.

Gilding. The final phase of the process involves an electroplating process to keep the cloisonné free from rust. A final polish is required to smooth the exposed parts of the filigree and the metal fringes of the piece.

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