The Art Of Crafting Precious Objects In Silver With Enamel Inlay

There are several different standards of silver that the Russian artists worked with for creating the silver and enamel alcohol bottles, and the numerous other forms of antique Russian wares of silver. Within these different levels of silvers, there includes fine silver and sterling silver. There are many techniques of Russian artistic works with the vividly colored inlay enamel arts. The antique Russian Silver and Enamel alcohol bottle is a perfect example of the profoundly detailed beauty of inlay enamel. There is Encrusted Enamel and Painted Enamel for the artist to work with.

There are many things of beauty created and crafted by the Russian artists of the past including the most precious items like the antique Russian silver and enamel alcohol bottles. Like all Russian silver and enamel exquisitely hand-crafted by the Russian artists, these too have been done with the purest of silver a most delicate of brightly colored traditional inlaid designs, like the Star of David.

There are several different standards of silver that the Russian artists worked with for creating the silver and enamel alcohol bottles, and the numerous other forms of antique Russian wares of silver. Within these different levels of silvers, there includes fine silver and sterling silver. The true nature of silver is quite soft, so there is often an alloy of other metals such as copper to strengthen the silver for creating these works of art for its beauty and for its usefulness too. For the most popular known alloy combination, there is the 92.5 percent of silver and 7.5 percent of copper that creates what is known as Sterling Silver. This formation of silver is also known as '925 Sterling Silver', and this will be the markings to identify items made of Sterling Silver.

There are many techniques of Russian artistic works with the vividly colored inlay enamel arts. The antique Russian Silver and Enamel alcohol bottle is a perfect example of the profoundly detailed beauty of inlay enamel. The delicately applied designs are attractive to the eyes with an artistically hand-crafted design of value and meaning.

The artistic works of enamel inlay starts by one of several techniques known specifically to enamel its self. Enamel is made from certain ingredients that are formed into cakes or lumps. They are then finely ground into a delicate form of powder. It is then combined with oil or water. The final step is one of the many ways in the applications of hand craftsmanship. There are several enamel inlay techniques that include the Champleve Technique, the Cloisonné Technique, the Basse-Taille Technique, and the Pique-a-Jour Technique that all create pleasing artistic beauty. There is Encrusted Enamel and Painted Enamel for the artist to work with. The encrusted method is to spread white pastes of enamel over the surface, but the painted enamel is and oil powder enamel mixture that is applied, heated by being fired.

The crafting is all done by hand so the products are valuable unlike the machine made mass production. Each object carries the quality of an heirloom and prices go up as years pass. -- iS