A NEW OR IMPROVED MODE OF MANUFACTURING AND DECORATING ARTISTIC ARTICLES KNOWN AS 'FRENCH CLOISONNÉS.
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Henry Bock, of 139, Cannon Street, in the City
of London, Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent, for an Invention of “A
NEW OR IMPROVED MODE OF MANUFACTURING AND DECORATING ARTISTIC
ARTICLES KNOWN AS 'FRENCH CLOISONNÉS.'" A communication from abroad.
by Harold Starcke, of Paris, in the Republic of France, Manufacturer.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Henry Beck at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 5th October 1881.
WILLIAM HENRY BECK, of 139, Cannon Street, in the City of London, Con-
sulting Engineer and Patent Agent. "A NEW OR IMPROVED MODE OF
MANUFACTURING AND DECORATING ARTISTIC ARTICLES KNOWN AS 'FRENCH
CLOISONNÉS.' [A communication from abroad by Harold Starcke, of Paris, in
the Republic of France, Manufacturer.]
This Invention consists, firstly, in a constant way of acting by the dry method;
and, secondly, in the employment as a fixing for the colours and as a filling material
of the "cloisonné" of natural or coloured marble cement, which may also form by
itself or mixed with other substances the constituent material of the article to be
manufactured or decorated.
In order to make the Invention more clearly understood the mode of proceeding
will be divided in the following description into five main operations :-
1st. The manufacture of the article to be decorated.
2nd. The fixing of the metal intended to form the "cloisonné."
3rd. The fixing of the colours.
4th. The filling or application of the background.
5th. The finishing.
Fly The manufacture of the atiala da ha desenated Thi
AUMA RA

page_text: suitable metal, earth, porcelain, glass, slate, marble, cement, wood, bone, ivory, and
so forth. The article is to be of the shape it is intended to be when finished, but
of course without the parts resulting from the application of the "cloisonné." The
decorative "cloisonné" part should preferably be applied on a plain surface.
Secondly. The metal plates or strips intended to form the "cliosonné" are cut
out or shaped to the lines of the drawing of the ornaments or decorative parts that
are to be reproduced, which drawing may be on paper, linen, or other suitable
material.
These metal plates or strips thus prepared are laid on the article to be decorated,
such as a panel, vase, or bronze, and are fixed thereto with marble cement, which is
nade malleable by means of a size-colour in cold water, and is spread on either side
of the metallic "cloison."
"
This application and fixing of the metal plates, strips, or cloisons" is usually
effected by hand, but it may be done by mechanical means.
Thirdly. Between the said "cloisons" are fixed the desired colours, the basis of
which is cement, that is to say, they consist of marble cement mixed and ground
with metallic-oxides, or generally with any of the colouring substances used in the
arts and manufactures:
It is obvious that with these colours ground and mixed by the cold process with
marble-cement, and applied therewith in this manner between the metal plates or
"cloisons," any shades and artistic gradations may be obtained.
Fourthly. The "cloisonné" and the coloured parts of the design having been
applied to the article, as above described, there remains only the ground work to
fill in; this is done with similar marble-cement, coloured or not as desired, so as to
obtain a uniform or graduated base which shall be as perfect an imitation as possible
of the finest natural marbles.
Fifthly. In this last division of the work are comprised several operations. The
"cloisonné" article having been thus obtained, the colours and the ground are
left in a more or less rough state. If it be a panel the "cloisonned" surface has
to be planed, filed, or rasped; if a vase or other article susceptible of being turned,
it must be placed in a lathe and levelled with tools similar to those employed. for
the metals, such as steel, for example.
When in this levelling of the "cloisonnéd" surface crevices or cracks become
apparent, they are filled up with the same materials as those used in the preliminary
work.
The polishing may be done by hand or by machine with hard stone, and the final
glazing is effected by the means usually employed in the manufacture of articles in
natural marble or stucco.

page_text: "
'cloisons," all kinds of artistic tones, shades, and gradations can be obtained, the
workman being provided with coloured drawings giving the shades of colour to be
obtained.
Fourthly. The filling in or application of the ground.
The "cloisonné" and the coloured parts of the 'design having been applied to
the article, as above described, there remains only the ground to fill in ; this is done
with similar marble-cement, coloured or not as desired, so as to obtain a uniform
or variously shaded ground, imitating more or less perfectly the finest natural
marbles.
This ground is indicated by the letters m, m, in the Drawing, and hides the
plate a, giving the desired homogeneity to the whole.
Fifthly. The finishing.
In this last division of the work are comprised several operations. The
"cloisonné" article having been thus obtained, the colours and the ground are left
in a more or less rough state. If it be a panel the "cloisonnéd " surface has to be
planed, filed, or rasped; if a vase or other article susceptible of being turned, it
must be placed in a lathe and levelled with tools similar to those employed for the
metals, such as steel, for example.
When in this levelling of the "cloisonnéd " surface crevices or cracks in the
ground or colours become apparent, they are filled up with the same materials as
those used in the preliminary work.
The polishing may then be done by hand or by machine with hard natural or
artificial stone, and the final glazing is effected by the means usually employed in
the manufacture of articles in natural marble or stucco.
The cloisonned objects produced by this process, and to which the distinctive
name of "cloisonnés Français" has been given, may be made to present more art
and richness than, and may be substituted for, many articles in porcelain, table
articles, ornaments, pottery, furniture, jewellery, faience, and so forth.
Having now described the nature of the said Invention, and the mauner in
which the same is to or may be carried into effect, I would have it understood
that what I claim as the Invention to be secured by the within in part recited
Letters is,―
The new or improved mode of manufacturing and decorating artistic articles,
known as French cloisonnés, as hereinbefore described, such mode consisting,―
Firstly. In applying and fixing on the back ground by means of marble cement
the metal strips intended to form the design or decoration it is desired to obtain.
Secondly. In filling in the coloured parts of the design or ornament with marble-
cement, coloured according to the shades to be obtained.
Thirdly. In filling in the ground, that is to say, all that remains outside the
cloisonné, with marble cement, coloured or not at pleasure.
Fourthly. In equalizing or dressing the external surface of the object thus
covered by means of metallic tools capable of cutting both the material forming
the cloisonné and the cement covering which forms the decoration and the ground.
Fifthly. In giving to the object the desired polish and finish by polishing with
hard stone, and finishing by operations analogous to those employed in stucco and
natural marbles.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Henry Beck, have hereunto set my
band and seal this Fourth day of Ausil in the your of Law Own thousand