I am looking for on various techniques for plique a
jour.
I found an article from 1992 in Enameling on Metal, about Valery
Timofeev’s technique; I was also in touch with one of his students,
Diane Almeyda. She says she uses a different technique but didn’t
provide details…
so, I’m wondering if anyone at Orchid can provide me with some
precise instructions for assembling & soldering plique a jour
wires… I purchased a small stainless steel cup to use as a mold,
and I have ordered plique a jour wires in two sizes - heavy wires for
the larger structural ‘ribs’ and thinner wire for the smaller cells.
I’ve also done a lot of soldering, so I should be able to manage the
soldering; but I’m just not clear about the best approach. do you
form the wires flat and then fit them on the cup/mold? do you fit the
wires around the cup/mold and actuallly solder them there?
anyway, any info/advice would be greatly appreciated!
form and fit the wires to the cup otherwise they will not sit up
straight when bent, only use IT solder and quench and pickle after
soldering to clean up the fines you could get in touch off line if you
wish Anna-Margot
The cover for the December issue of Lapidary Journal is
plique-a-jour enameling, (which they’re calling “stained glass
enameling” on the cover) and it includes a step-by-step project by
Diane Almeyda to make a pendant in silver, using this method. Perhaps
the workshop article would supply some of the you are
looking for.
(LJ is available at Barnes & Noble and many other newsstands. Also
by subscription at www.lapidaryjournal.com.)
I took Valerie’s course also and use his technique. I teach it and
I live in Atlanta, GA.
Please contact me privately for more on this technique
since it is very time consuming. Diane explains it very well in the
current issue of lapidary journal.
Diane Almeyda is featured in the just-out December issue of Lapidary
Journal. Her step-by-step project in the issue is for pierced metal
sheet but there is some description of the Russian wire technique in
the article as well as on her website: www.plique-a-jour.com
Fay Rooke is also an expert in Plique; she saws out the openings in
her pieces (preshaped fine silver or copper), or etches away the
inside copper form after enameling the outside which has the fine
silver wires embedded into the enamel. (Will send one of her pliques
direct by attachment.)
Tereze, that article has all the you are asking for
already laid out in great detail - it’s an excellent piece of
instructional writing and along with the illustrations that go with
it, tells you all you need to know. It’s also on line at:
Just to let you know there is a new book from England, “Enameling on
Precious Metals” by Jeanne Werge-Hartley. ISBN 1 86126 506 9. This
is a fantastic book on enameling and it has a full chapter covering
different ways to do Plique a Jour.
I have it in stock, it is $45.00. Contact me off line if you are
interested. May you always enamel with passion in your heart
Joan Schlaifer
Schlaifer’s Enameling Supplies
1441 Huntington Dr. PMB 1700
South Pasadena, CA 91030
(800) 525-5959 (626) 441-1127 http://www.enameling.com