Halcyon Days Enamel Floral Trinket Box, Handpainted Artisan Gift, Ring Holder, Thoughtful Gift for Gardener, Floral Lover, Mom Gift, outlet Begonia
Halcyon Days enamel box is the epitome of all things British.
"Begoniaceae" enamel trinket box
Floral frames surround the box and red flowers adorn the top
A charming unique gift, made in England and a true tribute to fine English craftsmanship.
Measures 1 3/4" Tall x 1 1/2" Diameter, hinged
Excellent condition
A lot of work goes into these tiny treasures and I copied the process from their website
"These enamels demonstrate the outlet very best of British craftsmanship and our craftsmen take great pride in delivering luxury products of the highest standard. Each of our beautiful handcrafted enamel boxes is a work of art in its own right. The production of enamels requires meticulous craftsmanship, using a process that has been handed down for generations. The art of enamelling on copper first started in England in the 1740s and was in danger of dying out completely before Halcyon Days revived this master art in 1950.
THE ENAMEL PRODUCTION PROCESS
Stage 1: Copper
The basic shapes of all our Halcyon Days enamel boxes are formed by being pressed from fine sheets of copper. The copper is then washed in various solutions including soapy water, acid and clean water to cleanse and etch the surface of the copper. This procedure is crucial to prepare the surface to hold the first coat of enamel.
STAGE 2: Enamelling
Liquid enamel is made from small glass particles called ‘frit', which are ground down to form a fine powder. This is then mixed with china clay and water. The copper parts are then carefully dipped or sprayed with the mixed enamel liquid and fired in a kiln for 8 minutes or so at a temperature of 800°C, fusing and covering to the copper. This process is repeated at least five times to ensure that the finish is hard, glossy and flawless.
Stage 3: Application of lithographic transfer
A transfer is placed onto the enamel providing the outline of the design. The enamel is fired for two minutes at 700°C to fuse the transfer and is then checked for any blemishes that may have occurred whilst firing.
Stage 4: Painting
A highly skilled artisan hand paints the design using enamel paints made from finely ground glass, metal oxides and oil. Depending on the complexity of the design, the painting can take between a few hours and many days to complete. Upon completion, the enamel receives a final firing and then assembled and then undergo a final and meticulous inspection." Taken from their website