Talk:Champlevé

Illustrations
I notice that one of the images illustrating this article is an Byzantine earthernware cup which uses a form of decoration whereby a design is incised in the clay, then filled with slip, before being fired. Whilst it is true that the French word to describe this technique is indeed 'champlevé', in normal English usage I think the term is normally restricted to the enamelling of metal. Not sure what anglophone ceramicists would call this (I'm thinking 'encaustic' but that may only be for tiles?). Furthermore, the article itself only talks about champlevé enamel. Therefore I think it might be appropriate to change this for a more relevant image, perhaps a Limoges reliquary chest. Does anyone have any objections or shall I just go ahead? (If the term is correctly applied to the cup then this other usage needs to be reflected in the text.) Might also add a little more on the history of its use in Western art if that's OK... StuartLondon (talk) 13:50, 12 June 2009 (UTC)
 * Yes, wouldn't that be sgraffito in english? Changed. Johnbod (talk) 15:22, 22 June 2010 (UTC)

Broken link
The last line "External Links" has a broken link to the V&A article/video. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 108.7.195.97 (talk) 10:38, 31 July 2016 (UTC)

Does Champlevé always mean enamelled?
Early pocket watch metal dials are often described as Champlevé, e.g. by the British Museum http://www.britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/collection_object_details.aspx?objectId=56577&partId=1&searchText=six-hour+dial&page=3. These dials often do not have any enamel on them.

This leads to my question: Does Champlevé always mean enamelled?

The term Champlevé itself in raw translation does not included reference to enamel, only to the creation of a raised field, in implication by depressing material around it. I suggest that Champlevé on its own could means simply this process, and when enamel is added it perhaps should be called "Champlevé enamel" or similar.

David.Boettcher (talk) 10:16, 23 July 2017 (UTC)


 * In the BM example I would suggest the black markings for the hours etc are indeed in enamel - if not, then what are they in? Mere paint? The technique box only says "inlaid" which is not very helpful. Johnbod (talk) 12:57, 23 July 2017 (UTC)


 * According to "The Camerer Cuss Book of Antique Watches", Antique Collectors Club, Woodbridge, 1976, p.302, the hollowed-out numerals of a Champlevé dial were filled with black or coloured wax, or pitch. He says that when a hollowed out area is filled with enamel, that is called "Champlevé enamel", which supports my original suggestion. David.Boettcher (talk) 11:09, 13 August 2017 (UTC)