Cloisonné Enamel (Jingtailan) (景泰蓝)

Why it is worth considering

Cloisonné — 景泰蓝, literally 'blue of the Jingtai reign' — is the craft most tied to Beijing's imperial past: copper forms, thin metal wires bent into patterns, and colored enamel fired until it turns to glass. Along with filigree inlay and jade carving, it is counted among the 'Eight Wonders of Yanjing' (燕京八绝), the crafts that defined old Beijing's workshops.

Small vases, plates, and jewelry boxes make striking, unmistakably Chinese gifts. The catch is quality variance: tourist stalls sell rough, mass-produced pieces next to genuinely fine ones, so the buying checklist on this page matters more than for any other item.

Before you buy, check

• Run your finger over the enamel: good pieces feel glassy-smooth; cheap copies feel rough or pitted.
• Check that the metal wire outlines (the 'cloisons') are even and the colors stay inside them — bleeding color means sloppy firing.
• Hold it to the light: genuine fired enamel has depth and gloss; painted imitations look flat.
• Avoid anything marketed as 'antique' unless you are an expert — the antique stalls are full of reproductions, and real antiques cannot be exported freely.

Good to know

• We have not verified current prices — small pieces and large vases differ by an order of magnitude; confirm in person.
• Enamel is essentially glass on metal: wrap pieces well and carry them in hand luggage, not checked bags.