Technique Blue of Sèvres - Earthenware & Enamels of Longwy

 
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Technique Blue of Sèvres
The "Bleu de Sèvres" in Longwy was quite limited over a period of about 10 years from 1885. Much of the production is due to Louis Ernie. Note that many pieces were mounted bronze to give harmony.
      
The big blue of Sèvres is a bright blue one thanks to a cooking of big fire difficult to handle on the technical plan. In addition to the simple blue uniform on the pieces, there existed at the pottery enamels surrounded by small fire hand painted with plant and animal motifs.
      
This being an additional difficulty because these decorations require a second firing in a small fire on a large fire enamel. These decorations are often highlighted with real gold creating a fine relief but still impose a cooking so-called "mouffle".
      
Gold and platinum were often associated with the big blue of Sèvres. These are still the difficult techniques to dominate for gold or platinum bands that are placed on the enamel of high fire and cooked at low temperatures.
      
Then the artist gently scrapes the areas to be incised so that the blue reappears. This technique called Niellure is very old because already known to the Romans.
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