(forgive me for the lesson)
Although produced widely throughout Europe from the latter
half of the 19th century, utilitarian tinware, or enamelware,
half of the 19th century, utilitarian tinware, or enamelware,
that was painted and glazed became known as French Enamelware
due to it’s particular popularity in France.
due to it’s particular popularity in France.
The process of enameling had been around for centuries with
examples of fragments of enameled pottery and metal having been
excavated in Eygpt and dated back to ancient Eygyptian times.
examples of fragments of enameled pottery and metal having been
excavated in Eygpt and dated back to ancient Eygyptian times.
Vitreous enamel involves the fusion of powdered glass to an object
through firing at extreme temperatures of between 750° - 850°C.
This creates a durable and smooth coating on metal.
through firing at extreme temperatures of between 750° - 850°C.
This creates a durable and smooth coating on metal.
Prior to around 1890 foodstuffs would have been stored in
ceramic lidded crocks, wooden pantry boxes, cloth bags, glass jars
ceramic lidded crocks, wooden pantry boxes, cloth bags, glass jars
and rather crude tin containers.
With the advent of cheaply manufactured metalware sheet steel
enameled items became sought after in European households
and were produced primarily in Belgium, Austria and Czechoslovakia.
enameled items became sought after in European households
and were produced primarily in Belgium, Austria and Czechoslovakia.
The wartime industrialist Oskar Schindler (1908 – 1974)
who was an opportunistic business man himself acquired an
idle enamelware factory in Poland profiting from the
German invasion in 1939.
who was an opportunistic business man himself acquired an
idle enamelware factory in Poland profiting from the
German invasion in 1939.
Schindler who was an ethnic German born in Moravia and a
Nazi party member went on to employ, protect and ultimately save,
it is estimated, around 1200 Jews. He, at great risk to himself,
employed them in his ammunitions and enamelware factories
insisting that they were his vital workforce.
Nazi party member went on to employ, protect and ultimately save,
it is estimated, around 1200 Jews. He, at great risk to himself,
employed them in his ammunitions and enamelware factories
insisting that they were his vital workforce.
By 1900 and until the late 1940’s European kitchens were well stocked
with enamelware ranging from the simple white jug with it’s
blue rim to more elaborate designs both abstract and figurative.
with enamelware ranging from the simple white jug with it’s
blue rim to more elaborate designs both abstract and figurative.
Vintage Enamel including jugs, canisters, candleholders, salt boxes,
matchboxes, bread bins, cake tins and milk pails are today
highly desirable decorative items adding old world charm
to modern interiors. The term shabby chic is rather tired yet enamelware
is a key component of this much loved look.
highly desirable decorative items adding old world charm
to modern interiors. The term shabby chic is rather tired yet enamelware
is a key component of this much loved look.
Enamelware comes in a rainbow hue of colours and
whilst prices have dropped due to recent modern day
whilst prices have dropped due to recent modern day
reproductions rare and colourful finds in good condition
are still sought after and therefore continue to
command good prices.
are still sought after and therefore continue to
command good prices.
A lively market for enamelware exists today in America
whereas during it’s golden era it never really captured the hearts
of the Americans. During this period in the USA great
quantities of Japanned tin containers and wooden salt
and spice boxes were manufactured instead.
whereas during it’s golden era it never really captured the hearts
of the Americans. During this period in the USA great
quantities of Japanned tin containers and wooden salt
and spice boxes were manufactured instead.
Today the Japanese also go wild for quality vintage
French enamelware and in Japan stylish examples often
sell for exhorbitant sums.
French enamelware and in Japan stylish examples often
sell for exhorbitant sums.
As you know since 2001 I have lived in Northern France near Lille
and worked as an artist/antique dealer buying and restoring
French furniture and vintage objects to sell to my clients who included
Cath Kidston the queen of floral textiles, distressed authentic
painted furniture, vintage and enamelware.
and worked as an artist/antique dealer buying and restoring
French furniture and vintage objects to sell to my clients who included
Cath Kidston the queen of floral textiles, distressed authentic
painted furniture, vintage and enamelware.
Throughout my wanders in French street brocantes my heart
always skips a beat when I spot something enamel and I have myself
always skips a beat when I spot something enamel and I have myself
a small collection of honest household items which continue
to give me simple pleasure.
to give me simple pleasure.
When I quietly contemplate my enamelware I often wonder
of it’s origins and like to think that perhaps my humble jug was made
by one of Oskar Schindler’s Jewish holocaust survivors…
(blogger is bleedin bugging excuse me for odd linefeeds)
of it’s origins and like to think that perhaps my humble jug was made
by one of Oskar Schindler’s Jewish holocaust survivors…
(blogger is bleedin bugging excuse me for odd linefeeds)
4 comments:
I love enamel ware too.
I watched the film Schindlers list the other day,I managed to cry several times through it x
Fantastic post Linda!
I enjoyed all the interesting facts. I have a lot of American antiques and often wonder about the former owners, antiques have so much soul. Most of our furniture is handmade or antique, it's much more fun and interesting to share a household with objects that embody the past and talented human hands.
I love your enamelware and if my husband didn't make so much pottery I would hoard it like a pocket mouse.
Have a great weekend, xo
What a lovely collection! What an interesting post!
I love love LOVE enamelware! I don't have very much - my favourite pan is enamelware and I'm always surprised by how easy it is to clean (and it must be more healthy than 'non stick' which always seems to flake in time and kind of scares me - the thought of all that non-stick stuff floating around inside me ... yuck).
If I ever get a kiln in my jewellery studio I will be enameling away till the cows come home!
Bon Weekend to you.
(and, yes, I get those blogger linefeed problems too - and it IS the most annoying thing. Sometimes it just seems to have a mind of its own)
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