LUSTRE COSTUME JEWELLERY

Lustreware is a type of ceramic glazing which is Middle Eastern in origin. Metal salts used as glazes, result in a metallic lustrous irridescent sheen on ceramic costume jewellery.

Intended for use as a fashion item, as opposed to 'real' (or fine) jewellery which may be regarded primarily as collectibles, keepsakes or investments, costume jewellery is usually made of less valuable materials such as base metals, glass, plastic, fabrics, enamel, paper and beads or synthetic stones.

PORCELAIN PAINTING

Porcelain or china painting, which uses clay as a canvas, has its origins in China with potters who decorated porcelain.

The Chinese developed this long before Marco Polo's arrival in the 13th century. The technique involves the painting of a design with 'overglaze' colours onto glazed porcelain.When the piece is fired the glaze on the china softens, allowing the thin layer of paint to be fixed. This overglaze procedure is repeated many times to reach the required depth of colour and the finish is then permanent.

The materials used include gold, platinum and lustres. Enamels and paint in powder form containing precious metals, oxides and flux and are also used. Most porcelain today comes from Japan, Germany and France, with England producing fine bone china.

Porcelain painting, like all handcraft, is labour intensive, so that today the most expensive commercial dinnerware is not hand painted, but decals (or processes of photographic reproduction) are commonly used.

DECOUPAGE

'Japanning' as it was known in 18th century England, or Decoupage, is the art of decorating an object, commonly a small box or an item of furniture, by gluing colored paper cutouts on, in combination with special paint effects such as gold leaf.

Each layer is sealed with varnishes (often multiple coats) until the 'glued' appearance disappears and the result looks like painting or inlay work. The traditional technique used 30-40 layers of varnish which were then sanded to a polished finish.

DECORATIVE PAINTING . FOLK ART

Bauernmalerei, or folk art, was once considered 'peasant' painting. Everyday household objects such as tables, chests, wardrobes, cabinets, or the gables of houses were decorated with colourfully painted motifs, usually of traditional design. Today's painters are not bound by tradition and apply their paints freely using a variety of designs or motifs on many forms.